LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Southern Mississippi players spread out toward Commonwealth Stadiums west end zone to celebrate one of the programs wildest victories with their happy fans.A huge second-quarter deficit made winning seem unlikely before the Golden Eagles responded with near-perfect performances on both sides of the ball.Nick Mullens ran for two 1-yard touchdowns -- including the go-ahead score late in the third quarter -- and passed for two TDs as Southern Miss scored 34 unanswered points to upset Kentucky 44-35 in its season opener on Saturday night.The Golden Eagles web site said their comeback was the largest since at least 2009, when they erased a 17-point deficit to beat Virginia.Im really proud of just the fight and determination that our players showed, Golden Eagles coach Jay Hopson said after winning his debut. They just kept digging, kept fighting and it was a great win.Kentucky appeared in control with a 35-10 second quarter lead as Drew Barker threw TD passes of 72, 43, 9 and 53 yards on drives totaling 13 plays. Jojo Kemps 7-yard TD run seemed to provide a safe cushion that the Wildcats defense complemented with three interceptions of Mullens.Neither Mullens nor the Golden Eagles quarterback panicked as he answered Kentuckys final score with a 71-yard TD pass to Isaiah Jones with 26 seconds left before halftime. Mullens then sandwiched 1-yard TD runs around an 18-yard scoring pass to Julian Allen, followed by two Parker Schaunfield field goals.My mindset didnt really change, said Mullens, who completed 18 of 28 passes for 258 yards. I just had to relax, focus and make the next play.Southern Miss running backs did their part to make the comeback happen.Ito Smith contributed 173 yards rushing and an 8-yard touchdown on 36 carries, while George Payne added 100 on 16 carries. Payne missed last season with an injury but he looked just fine on one fourth-quarter play in which he lost a yard but broke several tackles.That play summed Kentuckys frustrating second half in which it was outgained 261-22 and was worn down by Southern Miss.BARKERS DAYBarker finished 15 of 24 passing for 323 yards, but had just 36 yards after halftime and was sacked four times.THE TAKEAWAYSOUTHERN MISS: The Golden Eagles stuck with the game despite being outscored 35-3 after scoring on their first drive, rebounding with the trio of Mullens, Smith and Payne. Offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson got the final word against his former team as Southern Miss outgained Kentucky 520-409 and dominated the final 32 minutes. I think hes certainly proud of it, Mullens said about Dawson. You guys (media) can do with that situation what you want to, but it was about beating Kentucky. The victory ended a 13-game losing streak to Southeastern Conference schools dating back to 2000.KENTUCKY: The Wildcats still have time to reach the six-win plateau for bowl eligibility. But they blew a huge lead and opportunity in a game they had to win toward that end, and an 0-2 start is looming with a trip to No. 25 Florida looming. Kentucky blew a 21-point lead in a 38-24 loss to Louisville in last seasons finale. Thats a tough loss and our fans deserved better, coach Mark Stoops said. And Ill tell you this, well play better.UP NEXTSOUTHERN MISS: The Golden Eagles aim to follow up their big win when they host FCS Savannah State next weekend.KENTUCKY: The Wildcats visit No. 25 Florida next Saturday in hopes of ending a 29-game losing streak to the Gators -- not to mention, annual media questions about it. Kentucky has come close the past two years and aims to finally seal the deal in the nationally televised game at The Swamp. 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From the high of their opening victory over Sri Lanka, West Indies tied against Zimbabwe and then suffered two narrow defeats, by one and five runs, to slip out of contention for the tri-series final, and will leave Zimbabwe with just one win from four matches. Where did it all go wrong?Its a difficult question, West Indies captain Jason Holder said after his teams tour-ending defeat to Zimbabwe in Bulawayo. Luck wasnt really in our favour in some instances but, out of the things that we could control, I didnt think that we fielded well throughout the entire tournament, consistently.Its very disappointing. Its tough to be in this position, after starting the tour so well. At the beginning of the tour we felt we could have won the tournament, and to be in this position right now, were absolutely gutted. Its a situation where we really need to look at ourselves in the mirror and see where we fell short, moving forward into the new year, and see how we can come together again and perform better.Today I felt Zimbabwe got too many runs, and we didnt bat smart enough in the situation, Holder added. We lost wickets at crucial stages. Zimbabwes 218 for 8 may have seemed a modest target, but conditions were tricky for batting and with rain around it was always possible that Duckworth/Lewis targets could come in to play. West Indies needed a steady start, but instead they lost three wickets inside the first 10 overs. Graeme Cremer used his bowlers cunningly, and for the first time in an ODI innings the first four bowlers used were all spinners. With wickets falling, and Zimbabwe getting through their overs very quickly, the hosts were able to put themselves in a strong position.Some credit must be given to Zimbabwe for the way they strategised: [how they went] about their innings, and to get the spinners on early and get through their overs with all this talk of the weather around, Holder said. Holder himself very nearly pulled West Indies back into contention. He hit three of the first six balls he faced to the boundary, and followed that up with a lofted six - the only one of West Indies innings - down the ground. When Cremer came on to bowl the 28th over, with the drizzle getting heavier, West Indies were just eight runs from a winning score.dddddddddddd Holder said he felt he could have continued batting in those conditions, but the umpires decided otherwise.At the beginning of that last over which Graeme started to bowl, I knew we had to get as close as possible to it, but it was still a risk because you didnt want to lose a wicket as well. So I tried to go after him a little bit, but I couldnt get hold of it. I had a word with the umpire then, and he did say that if it continued in that vein wed consider going off. For me, I was just trying to get to that score without losing a wicket, so I was between a rock and a hard place.It was touch and go, to be honest. I felt the weather never really changed throughout the entire day. But the umpires used their discretion, I couldnt really get involved. It was their decision. They felt it was becoming a little slippery for the fielders. I was willing to play through it, and I felt like we could have stayed on and played through it, but that was beyond my control.Yet Holder will not leave Zimbabwe with nothing to show for his troubles. Ahead of the final, the two leading run-scorers and three of the top five wicket-takers in the tri-series are in the West Indies squad.There are plenty of positives. We got two centuries in four games, the bowlers came in and did a really good job. And just to see the way we went out in the last game to try and chase down 331, to fall one run short... For a young group, a very inexperienced team, to get that close, credit must be given to the guys. Im not disappointed too much in individuals performances. Collectively, we fell short.To see the way weve grown in this tournament, the way the guys have played, I cant fault them. Its a situation where we need to learn, and learn quickly. We go back home now, and some people have first-class cricket, and then we have our 50-over competition in the new year. Its a situation where we need to take every opportunity we get to play some cricket, and well get better. ' ' '
