SAN MARCOS, Texas (AP) - Quincy Sorrell returned an interception 82 yards for a touchdown in the fifth overtime Saturday as Nicholls State University outlasted Texas State 49-36 in a Southland Conference game.

Terrence Spears started the fifth overtime by running for a 1-yard touchdown that put Nicholls (4-4, 2-2 Southland) ahead 43-36.

On the second play of the Bobcats' ensuing possession, Sorrell picked off a David Williams pass at the Colonels' 18 and returned it 82 yards. It was the fourth interception of a Williams pass and the third returned for a touchdown.

Texas State running back Claude Mathis, who had 31 carries for 173 yards, tied the game 20-20 with 18 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter with a 1-yard touchdown run.

The extra-point kick would have given Texas State (4-4, 0-2) the victory, but the Colonels' Murphy Edwards blocked Matt Wieland's kick, sending the game into overtime.

The teams swapped field goals in the first overtime. A 12-yard touchdown by the Bobcats' Aaron Allen was matched by Spears' 1-yard touchdown in the second overtime.

Then the teams traded field goals again in the third and fourth overtimes before Spears' second touchdown and Sorrell's interception.

The Colonels' Demetrius Patterson picked off a Williams pass late in the first quarter and ran it back 32 yards for a score.

Ricardo Wilson caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Brad Zeller, and Ricky Wilson returned another Williams interception 44 yards for a score to put the Colonels ahead 20-0 at halftime.

Texas State rallied in the second half with Mathis' first touchdown, a 5-yard run, a 1-yard touchdown run by Williams and Mathis' second score.

Nakia Lumar carried 38 times for 168 yards for the Colonels. For Southwest Texas, Cyril Adkins caught eight passes for 111 yards.