NEW ORLEANS – Appearing in Bowl Season for the 28th time, Southern Miss fell to Western Kentucky, 27-16, in the New Orleans Bowl in New Orleans, La.
The Golden Eagles—who were part of the Sun Belt’s 10-team bowl contingent that leads all non-autonomy conferences for the fourth-straight season—dropped to 12-16 all-time in bowl games and 0-5 all-time against the Hilltoppers.
Southern Miss led 13-6 at the half, with redshirt senior quarterback Braylon Braxton connecting with redshirt junior wide receiver Tychaun Chapman for the lone first-half touchdown from 35 yards out. A pair of late second-quarter field goals from freshman kicker Creighton Wilbanks—the first set up by an interception by redshirt junior defensive lineman JJ Hawkins—extended the Golden Eagles halftime margin.