March 8, 2006

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Mildon Ambres scored 19 points and Craig Craft added a career-high 15 Wednesday as Southern Mississippi had a late rally to defeat Tulsa 66-61 in the opening round of the Conference USA Tournament.

Ambres and Craft, the only two reserves to play for the Golden Eagles (10-20), carried their team through most of the game and Southern Mississippi converted 12 of 14 free throws in the final 3:39. The No. 11 seeded Golden Eagles will face third-seed Texas-El Paso in Thursday's quarterfinals.

Ambres and Craft combined 12-of-21 from the field, with Craft hitting 3-of-7 outside the arc. Meanwhile, the Southern Mississippi starters were 10-of-32 shooting and scored 32 points.

Chris Wallace led Tulsa (11-17), the tournament's No. 6 seed, with 17 points, while Anthony Price scored 15, missing only two of his eight shots. Bishop Wheatley scored 10 for the Golden Hurricane.

Tulsa led by 8 with 6:33 left, and held a 57-52 advantage after Ray Reese connected on a 3-pointer with 4:22 remaining.

But Southern Mississippi outscored Tulsa 14-4 the rest of the way recording their second straight win - the first time the Golden Eagles had back-to-back victories since Dec. 27 and 30.

Ambres was the only one to score a field goal for Southern Mississippi in the closing minutes, the rest of the points coming from the line.

Despite shooting 50 percent in the first half, Southern Mississippi only carried a 31-30 into the halftime break.