HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) — Corey Acosta kicked a career-best four field goals and Southern Miss held off Alcorn State 26-20 Saturday night.

Acosta hit a 50-yard field goal for the only score of the first quarter, and tacked on a 39-yard field goal with 9 seconds left in the first half. He added field goals of 23 yards and 41 yards in the second half.

Ito Smith rushed for 118 yards and Nick Mullens threw for 208 yards and two touchdowns as the Golden Eagles (1-1) won for just the second time in their last 26 games.

Alcorn State (1-1) had its upset bid dashed when Jomez Applewhite picked off a John Gibbs pass with 57 seconds to play.

Gibbs rushed for 161 yards and a touchdown and Darryan Ragsdale rushed for 111 yards.

Gibbs added 94 yards passing but was intercepted twice. The Braves also lost a fumble and muffed a punt.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.