NCAA Game Summary - Louisiana Tech at Southern Miss

Hattiesburg, MS (SportsNetwork.com) - Daveon Boardingham scored a game-high 20 points as the Southern Miss Golden Eagles captured an 80-71 win over the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs in Conference USA action at Reed Green Coliseum.

Michael Craig registered a double-double for the Golden Eagles (16-3, 3-1 CUSA) with 17 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, followed by Neil Watson with 14 points as USM won for the seventh time in eight games.

The Bulldogs (15-4, 3-1) were led by Alex Hamilton with 19 points, but he shot just 4-of-13 from the floor and missed all six of his 3-point attempts. Cordarius Johnson accounted for 14 points, Chris Anderson 13 and Kenneth Smith 12 points to go along with nine assists as the squad saw a seven-game win streak come to an end.

A frenetic game in the first half, Southern Miss failed on all seven tries from 3-point range through the first 20 minutes, but countered with a near- perfect 19-of-21 at the free-throw line in order to take a 47-39 advantage into the break. The Bulldogs converted 7-of-17 on the perimeter in the period, but a mere 8-of-15 at the free-throw line.

In the second half the visitors connected on all six chances at the charity stripe, but instead they knocked down only 2-of-11 on the outside, preventing them from making a serious run at a comeback bid.

Not only did the Golden Eagles outscore Louisiana Tech at the charity stripe, 28-14, they also crushed the Bulldogs on the glass, 48-26.

Louisiana Tech was without leading scorer Raheem Appleby (16.1 ppg) who is scheduled to miss several weeks due to a sprained left ankle.