HATTIESBURG, MS (AP) -
Jawon Davis rushed for 131 yards and two touchdowns Saturday as Rice picked up its first win of the season 41-23 over Southern Miss.
Driphus Jackson threw for 178 yards and two touchdowns as the defending Conference USA champion Owls (1-3, 1-1) beat the Golden Eagles behind a balanced offensive attack that racked up 217 yards on the ground.
Nick Mullens threw for career-high 283 yards and a pair of touchdown passes for the Golden Eagles (2-3, 0-1).
But Rice limited Southern Miss to 40 yards rushing and forced three turnovers. The Golden Eagles also botched a 39-field goal attempt on the last play of the first half.
Davis, who rushed for a career-high 150 yards last week, averaged 4.5 yards on a career-high 29 carries. He scored on a pair of 6-yard runs in the first half as the Owls built a 20-10 halftime lead.
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