Southern Mississippi defeats UTEP 85-67

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Dwayne Davis scored 27 points and Jonathan Mills had a double-double to lead Southern Mississippi over UTEP 85-67 Friday in a Conference-USA semifinal match.

Davis was 9 of 13 from the field for the game. Mills had 13 points and 10 rebounds for the No. 2 seed Golden Eagles.

Jerrold Brooks scored 13 points. Neil Watson had eight points and seven assists for Southern Mississippi (25-8).

The Golden Eagles never trailed and led 48-31 at halftime. The Golden Eagles shot 58.5 percent from the field for the game. UTEP shot 46.9 percent. The Golden Eagles had the rebounding advantage 29-27.

C.J. Cooper led UTEP (18-14) with 20 points. Julian Washburn had 13 points, and Jacques Streeter added 10 points. McKenzie Moore and John Bohannon had five rebounds apiece for the No. 3 seed Miners.

Southern Mississippi will play the winner of Friday’s Memphis vs. Tulsa match the championship game Saturday.