NEW ORLEANS — Dwight Dasher threw two touchdowns and rushed for two more as Middle Tennessee stretched its winning streak to seven games by beating Southern Mississippi 42-32 in the New Orleans Bowl last night.

Dasher completed 15 of 25 for 162 yards and ran for 201 yards to give him 1,175 on the season.

Middle Tennessee (10-3), playing in the second bowl game in school history, concluded its best campaign since joining the Football Bowl Subdivision in 1999.

Southern Miss (7-6) was playing in its eighth straight bowl game, the 12th in the last 13 seasons. Southern Miss running back Damion Fletcher ran for 78 yards.