March 13, 2003

By CHRIS DUNCAN
AP Sports Writer

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Freshman Anthony Drejaj went 10-of-11 from the field and scored a season-high 27 points as Saint Louis beat Southern Mississippi 69-56 Thursday night in the Conference USA tournament quarterfinals.

Marque Perry added 15 points, six rebounds and four assists for the fourth-seeded Billikens (16-12), who won their eighth straight game.

Charles Gaines scored 19 points and Jasper Johnson added 15 for Southern Mississippi (13-16), which has lost 13 of 16.

Saint Louis will play ninth-seeded Alabama-Birmingham in Friday's second semifinal. The Blazers (18-11) upset No. 8 Marquette 83-76 earlier Thursday.

The Billikens opened their game with a 23-3 run, hitting nine of their first 12 shots.

Southern Miss, meanwhile, missed seven of its first eight shots and had three turnovers in the opening eight minutes against the league's best defense.

But the Golden Eagles gradually chipped away at Saint Louis' lead, holding the Billikens to one field goal over a six-minute span.

Saint Louis led 33-16 at halftime, but Southern Miss hit five of its first six shots in the second half during a 13-2 run.

The Billikens rebuilt an eight-point lead, but Perry twisted his right knee making a cut and left the game with 11:20 remaining.

Jasper Johnson, the hero of the Eagles' 63-61 win over Cincinnati on Wednesday night, hit a turnaround jumper a minute later to draw Southern Miss to 43-39.

The Billikens pushed the lead to nine, but Johnson scored seven straight points to trim the deficit to 48-46 by the seven-minute mark.

Perry sank a free throw and Drejaj made a 3-pointer from the wing to rebuild Saint Louis' lead.

The Eagles didn't make a serious run again, failing to reach the tournament semifinals for the seventh time in eight years.