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By Times staff and wire reports
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 4, 2001
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Vandarel Jones' 19 points paced Southern Mississippi to an 83-77 victory over South Florida on Saturday and a share of the Conference USA regular-season title.
Had it won, USF would have been the No. 2 seed in the Conference USA tournament, which starts Wednesday in Louisville, Ky. Instead the Bulls fell to No. 6 and face No. 11 seed DePaul in Wednesday's first round.
For the second straight year, USF's form in closing the regular season cost it a chance at a first-round bye. Southern Miss and Cincinnati tied for the regular-season title at 11-5. Charlotte and Memphis tied for third at 10-6, followed by Marquette and USF (9-7).
Southern Miss led 40-32 at the half. USF outscored the Golden Eagles 45-43 in the second half, but it wasn't enough.
B.B. Waldon led the Bulls with 18 points. Reggie Kohn had 16 points and Altron Jackson added 13.
David Wall had 16 points and Mel Cauthen 13 for the Eagles.