LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) -R.L. Horton scored 20 points and Southern Mississippi beat Louisiana-Lafayette 79-72 in the season opener for both teams on Saturday night.
Maurice Bolden had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Golden Eagles. Bolden made 3 of 4 attempts from 3-point range.
Gary Flowers added 12 points with eight rebounds for the Golden Eagles.
The Golden Eagles led by 13 points with 10 minutes remaining, but went the final 5:07 without a field goal.
Randell Daigle and Lamar Anderson both came off the bench to score 14 points to lead the Ragin Cajuns. Tyren Johnson added 13 points while Travis Bureau and Courtney Wallace each added 11 points.
The Ragin Cajuns got 39 points from their bench.
The Golden Eagles held a 40-20 rebounding edge, outscoring the Ragin Cajuns 12-2 on second-chance points.
