EL PASO, Texas (AP) -Texas-El Paso running back Marcus Thomas missed Saturday night's opener against New Mexico after school officials determined he broke an NCAA rule over the summer.

Thomas, UTEP's leading rusher the past two seasons, will serve a one-game suspension and return for next week's game at Texas Tech.

School officials said Thomas allowed a non-scholarship teammate to purchase textbooks using Thomas' university account, a violation of NCAA rules.