Recap: Southern Miss vs. S-M-U

Hattiesburg, MS (Sports Network) - Neil Watson scored 18 points to lead the Southern Miss Golden Eagles to a 64-57 victory over the SMU Mustangs in a Conference USA matchup at Reed Green Coliseum.

Southern Miss (24-6, 11-4 C-USA) also got 11 points from Maurice Bolden and has now won back-to-back games for the first time since earlier this month.

Robert Nyakundi scored 18 points and brought down six rebounds to pace SMU (12-18, 3-12) which also got 13 points from Jeremiah Samarrippas and 10 from Rodney Clinkscales. The Mustangs have now lost five of their last six.

Southern Miss went into the locker room leading 35-29 after shooting at a scorching 60.9 percent from the floor in the opening period. SMU kept the game within striking distance by connecting on 52.6 percent of its first half field goal attempts.

In the second half the Golden Eagles maintained their lead by shooting 43.5 percent while turning in a 12-for-19 effort from the free throw line in the closing period.

Southern Miss dominated on the interior with a massive 38-18 edge on points in the paint and the same 38-18 margin on the glass.