It didn’t look like the normal run-and-shoot expected from a June Jones offense.

Nonetheless, a Jones-coached team once again lit up the Aloha Stadium scoreboard on Christmas Eve.

Junior Garrett Gilbert, a transfer from Texas who played in the 2010 BCS National Championship, rushed for 98 yards and accounted for two touchdowns to lead the Mustangs to a 43-10 win over Fresno State in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl on Monday.

For the fourth time in his last five starts, Gilbert attempted fewer than 30 passes, shying away from the typical output expected from a quarterback playing for Jones.

Instead, he ran the ball a variety of ways, both by design and improvising, to finish with a career-high 18 carries and nearly the second 100-yard game of his career.

"It’s come by design a little bit more," said Gilbert, who topped the 90-yard rushing mark for the third time in four games. "Some of the stuff we did later in the season a lot of times we’ve played good defenses that have taken away our passing game so (running the ball) has been what’s there for us."

Fresno State tried to do the same, keying in on running back Zach Line, who had 71 yards on 19 carries.

The Mustangs didn’t attempt a pass longer than 5 yards on their first seven plays, showing a different look on offense from the one Jones ran while at Hawaii for eight years from 1999 to 2007.

After a scoreless first quarter, Gilbert got SMU on the board first with a 17-yard touchdown run early in a second quarter the Mustangs dominated, outscoring Fresno State 22-0.

"I knew Garrett was going to have to carry the load — some running the football," said Jones, who won his fifth Hawaii Bowl. "We did a couple of things that we knew he might be able to pop open.

"He did what he had to do to win the game for us."

Gilbert threw at least 40 passes in five of his first six games, but never topped the 300-yard mark as SMU started the season 2-4.

The Mustangs won four of their final six games to earn a bowl bid, finding different ways to move the ball on offense.

Gilbert scored all eight of his rushing touchdowns in the final five games.

Conversely, Gilbert had 144 consecutive pass attempts without an interception before throwing two against the Bulldogs. Those were his first since Oct. 18 against Houston.

"The more he’s around the offense, the better he’s going to get as we get better around him, too," Jones said.

Gilbert finished 14-for-28 for 212 yards. His one touchdown was a 21-yard pass to Darius Johnson as the Mustangs answered the Bulldogs’ only touchdown of the game with a score of their own just 3 minutes later.

"That drive there really kind of put the game away," Gilbert said. "For us to go out there and be able to respond like that and put six on the board was big."