Robert Vaden scored 33 points to tie a career high and lead UAB to a 72-65 victory over Southern Mississippi Wednesday night.

Vaden scored 22 points in the second half and finished with six 3-pointers. He scored 33 points earlier this season against Kentucky.

Courtney Beasley scored 19 points, and Jeremy Wise had 18 for Southern Miss.

UAB (12-5, 2-0 CUSA) won for the tenth time in last 12 games. Southern Miss (9-8, 1-2 CUSA) has lost five of its last six.

Vaden scored the first five points of the game, and the Blazers were ahead the rest of the way. Southern Miss did not score until about five minutes into the game, and the Golden Eagles trailed 30-18 at halftime. The Southern Miss offense heated up in the second half, producing 47 points after intermission. But Vaden repeatedly hit big shots to keep UAB comfortably in front. The Blazers led by as many as 16 points in the second half, and USM could get no closer than the seven-point final margin. USM travels to unbeaten and second ranked Memphis on Saturday. Chris Douglas-Roberts and Doneal Mack both scored 16 points and Joey Dorsey had nine points and 14 rebounds for the Tigers (16-0, 3-0 Conference USA), who beat Rice 77-50 on the road Wednesday.