Southern Miss Gets By Tulane in Fourth, 17-7

Lance Nations’ field goal broke a fourth-quarter tie and Chris Buckhalter’s 23-yard touchdown run clinched Southern Mississippi’s 17-7 victory over Tulane on Thursday night.

Nations’ 29-yard field goal with 11:48 to play shifted the balance in a game dominated by defense.

Southern Mississippi (4-3) scored in the first quarter on Tommy Waters’ 15-yard pass to Greg Reed that capped a nine-play 74-yard drive.

Tulane (2-4) tied the game in the second quarter after driving 64 yards and scoring on Terrance Strickland’s two-yard run.

Two possessions later, the Green Wave advanced to the Southern Mississippi 23, but Shawn Meadows’ pass was intercepted in the end zone by Perry Carter.

After Nations’ field goal, Buckhalter put the game away with his run with 5:23 remaining. It was only the fourth rushing touchdown of the season for the Golden Eagles, who beat Tulane for the sixth consecutive time.

Waters, starting for the first time since being injured against Auburn three weeks ago, completed eight of 16 passes for 187 yards and one touchdown. He was sacked twice for 16 yards.

Meadows was 10 of 26 for 84 yards.