southern miss scored the game's first touchdown at 11:38 in the first quarter to take a 7–0 lead. after neither team scored the rest of the first half, both teams hit field goals to make the score southern miss 10, louisiana tech 3 with 14 seconds left in the third quarter. louisiana tech tied the game at 10–10 when lyle fitte ran back a kickoff return 86 yards for a touchdown as the third quarter ended. after usm scored a field goal with 11:42 left in the contest to take a 13–10 lead, louisiana tech recovered a fumbled punt by southern miss at the usm 3-yard line. lennon creer scored tech's sole offensive touchdown of the night on a 1-yard carry to give tech a 17–13 lead with 9:43 left in the game. southern miss took a 19–17 lead after hitting field goals of 42 yards and 49 yards. southern miss went on to win the game after time expired with louisiana tech's offense in southern miss territory.