Tulsa, OK (Sports Network) - Dwayne Davis donated a game-high 27 points, as
second-seeded Southern Miss cruised to an 85-67 victory over UTEP in the
semifinals of the Conference USA Tournament at the BOK Center.
Jerrold Brooks and Jonathan Mills followed with 13 points apiece, with Mills
adding 10 rebounds for the Golden Eagles (25-8), who have won three straight
to bolster their resume for the NCAA Tournament.
Southern Miss does control its own destiny however, as the Golden Eagles will
take on either top-seeded Memphis or fifth-seeded Tulsa in the C-USA title
game on Saturday with an automatic bid on the line.
C.J. Cooper came off the bench and scored 20 points to pace the Miners
(18-14), who had won two straight.
Cooper's jumper just past the midpoint of the first half brought UTEP within
19-18, but Brooks buried a 3-pointer at the other end to spark 12-3 push that
provided the Golden Eagles with a 31-21 cushion.
A Cooper triple with four minutes left brought the Miners within six, but
Southern Miss scored the final 11 points of the frame to take a 48-31
advantage into the break.
Southern Miss cruised in the second half, as the Golden Eagles led by double
digits throughout the stanza en route to the victory.
GAME NOTES:
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