Mikel Leshoure rushed for three touchdowns, and the normally dormant Illinois passing game provided a spark in a 38-14 victory over Baylor Wednesday in the Texas Bowl at Reliant Stadium in Houston.

Leshoure, who ranked eighth in the nation with 126.1 rushing yards per game, helped the Illini (7-6) pull away for their first bowl victory since 1999. He finished with 184 yards on 29 carries, including touchdown runs of 5, 13 and 5 yards.

Illinois, which ranked 115th in FBS in passing yards at 143.4 per game, got 242 yards passing from Nathan Scheelhaase. He also rushed for a 55-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Derek Dimke provided the early offense for the Illini, kicking first-quarter field goals of 38 and 28 yards. Dimke’s 43-yard field goal 1:09 into the second quarter made it 9-0.

Leshoure rushed for a 5-yard touchdown two minutes later, capping an 86-yard drive to give the Illini a 16-0 lead. Leshoure rushed for a 13-yard score with 11:40 left in the third quarter, adding the two-point conversion to push the Illini lead to 24-0.

Baylor (7-6), making its first bowl appearance since 1994, got on the board on Jay Finley’s 4-yard touchdown run with 8:03 left in the third quarter. Kendall Wright’s 39-yard touchdown reception from Robert Griffin III and Aaron Jones’ extra point pulled the Bears within 24-14 with 13:43 left.

Leshoure added a 5-yard touchdown run with 7:14 left.

Griffin finished 30-of-41 for 306 yards for Baylor.