Southern Miss managed just eight points in the final four minutes, while Marquette poured in 15 for the final score. Southern Miss dropped to 10-11 overall and 1-8 in Conference USA play, while Marquette improved 16-6 overall and 4-5 in the league.

Marquette started out with a quick 7-0 lead two minutes into the game, but the visiting Eagles battled back to tie the game for the first time, 13-13, with 13:19 left in the half. Then, Southern Miss took its first lead of the game a little more than a minute later on Rashaad Carruth's fastbreak layup with 11:57 remaining in the half.

The lead would change hands five more times until the closing seconds of the period, when Southern Miss went up 36-34 for the two-point advantage it would take into the break.

But Marquette came out strong in the second half, scoring six-quick points to take a 40-38 lead with 18:38 remaining, a lead it would not relinquish.

Mildon Ambres led four Southern Miss players in double figures with a career-high 21 points, while also leading the team with eight rebounds. Carruth and Michael Ford each added 15 points, and Jason Forte chipped in with 10. Ford also had a team-high six assists.

For Marquette, five players scored in double figures, paced by Travis Deiner's 17 points and eight assists. Steve Novak added 16 points, while Dameon Mason followed with 15. Ryan Amoroso and Todd Townsend added 13 and 11 points, respectively.

Southern Miss stays on the road for a rematch against Tulane, Feb. 9, in New Orleans. The team then returns to Reed Green Coliseum to face Houston, Feb. 12.