Freshman center Mario Austin added 12 points and had three nifty assists, showing off his excellent vision and passing skills from the low post.

Austin's hook shot over Vandarel Jones, Conference USA's defensive player of the year, gave Mississippi State (17-12) a 54-46 lead with just under 10 minutes to play.

Jones, the Eagles' leading rebounder and second-leading scorer, was hampered by foul trouble and hounded by double-teams all game. He finished with seven points, four rebounds and four blocks, and fouled out with 5:08 left right after missing a layup.

Mario Myles scored 20 points to lead the Golden Eagles (22-9), including eight straight in a little more than a minute that cut Mississippi State's lead to 67-63 with 1:40 to play.

Brad Richardson hit a 3 for Southern Miss that made the score 70-66 with 58 seconds left, and the Golden Eagles had a chance to pull even closer on their next possession but missed four shots in one chaotic series.

David Wall scored 13 points for Southern Miss, the regular season C-USA co-champs that felt it was badly slighted by the NCAA tournament selection committee.

It was the 18th meeting between the in-state rivals, but the first since 1996 and the first in postseason play. The Bulldogs hold a 14-4 lead in the series and have won all six games in Starkville.

Playing an up-tempo pace better suited to Mississippi State's quicker athletes, the Bulldogs held 41-27 after a first half in which they shot nearly 55 percent and forced 16 turnovers.

Mississippi State outscored Southern Miss 23-9 over the final 8:06 of the first half, including a 12-0 run in which Patterson scored seven straight points.

The Bulldogs will play Pittsburgh in the second round. The Panthers beat St. Bonaventure 84-75.