Southern Miss

USM's at-large chances end in Huntington, W.Va.

The Southern Miss basketball team will head to Tulsa for the Conference USA Tournament knowing it will have to win the title if it is to make the NCAA Tournament.

Marshall beat USM, 88-84, in Huntington, W.Va., Tuesday night to end any real shot at an at-large bid for the Golden Eagles.

Southern Miss beat Marshall, 102-46, in January, but winning on the Thundering Herd's home court is always a difficult task. It's a tough atmosphere at Marshall and the travel is always a bit of a hassle.

If USM doesn't win the C-USA Tournament, it should turn out to be a relatively high seed in the NIT.

USM won or drew even in nearly every statistical category against Marshall, but it was a 17-of-30 effort at the free throw line that hurt the Eagles.

USM's RPI dropped seven spots to No. 41 following Tuesday night's loss.