MOBILE, Alabama - Rice (5-8) fell 38-24 to Southern Miss (7-6) on Saturday night in the LendingTree Bowl despite a strong performance from freshman QB AJ Padgett.

Padgett threw for 295 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions, while WR Isaiah Esdale hauled in three catches for 83 yards and a pair of scores. LBs Treshawn Chamberlain and Josh Pearcy led the Owls with seven tackles apiece.

Rice trailed 17-3 at the half, but scored 21 unanswered points to take a 24-17 lead midway through the third quarter. Southern Miss, led by RB Frank Gore, Jr., bounced back and scored the final 21 points, including 14 in the final quarter to pull away. Gore finished with an FBS bowl game record 329 yards on the ground (on 21 carries), with three total touchdowns (two rushing and one passing).