Southern Miss holds off Louisiana Tech 72-64

Mar 4, 2018, 01:05 am

HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Cortez Edwards scored 21 points with 8-for-10 shooting to lead Southern Miss to a 72-64 win over Louisiana Tech on Saturday.

After taking a 40-17 advantage into the break, Southern Miss (14-17, 7-11 Conference USA) had to scramble in the second half to hold off a Louisiana Tech rally that twice pulled the Bulldogs to within two points in the final three minutes.

Louisiana Tech (16-15, 7-11) used a 13-0 run capped by Amorie Archibald's 3-pointer to cut the gap to 61-59 late in the second half. Archibald again pulled the Bulldogs to within a possession, 64-62, on a layup with 1:39 left before Southern Miss dug in, getting a free throw and a 3-pointer, with 31 seconds left, from Edwards to stretch the advantage to 68-62.

Edwards set a program record for most steals in a single season, getting three on Saturday to push him to 66 on the season.

Tyree Griffin added 15 points for Southern Miss and Dominic Magee scored 13.

Archibald scored 21 points for Louisiana Tech and Jacobi Boykins had 14.