New Orleans Bowl 2016: Southern Miss vs. La.-Lafayette Live Score and Highlights

On a night when Southern Mississippi had some record-setting performances, the mistake-prone Golden Eagles had to overcome penalties, turnovers and terrible clock management to survive a 28-21 win over Louisiana-Lafayette in the New Orleans Bowl.

Senior quarterback Nick Mullens went 25-of-40 for 346 yards and two touchdowns in his final collegiate performance to lead the Golden Eagles to their seventh win. Most of those yards went to receiver Allenzae Staggers, who set a bowl record with 11 catches for 230 yards and a score.

Running back Ito Smith surged into fourth place on the school career rushing list with 138 yards on 26 carries and also had two touchdowns.

But 13 penalties for 131 yards doomed Southern Miss. Also, while Mullens had some big plays, he had a couple of huge mistakes as a sack-fumble and an interception were turned into 14 Ragin' Cajun points.

Even so, ULL quarterback Anthony Jennings couldn't get any offense going most of the night unless he was handed drives by Southern Miss miscues. A poorly managed final drive that could have tied the game fell short, and the Golden Eagles walked out of New Orleans with a win.