Memphis, TN -- (Sports Network) - R.L. Horton scored 18 points as the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles fought off the Central Florida Knights, 68-62, in the quarterfinal round of the Conference USA Tournament.

The reward for Southern Miss: a semifinals showdown with No. 2 Memphis, which has not fallen to a C-USA foe since the 2005-06 campaign.

Sai'Quon Stone contributed 14 points and corralled eight rebounds for the fifth-seeded Golden Eagles (19-13), who are riding a five-game win streak that includes Wednesday's 59-50 victory over Rice in opening round action.

Craig Craft and Jeremy Wise each added 11 points to help Southern Miss avenge a 52-41 home loss to UCF on January 8th. The all-time series is now knotted at two games apiece.

Jermaine Taylor tallied 25 points, four boards and three assists for Central Florida (16-15), which has dropped three consecutive contests. Dave Noel netted 20 points and Stanley Billings recorded nine points, four rebounds and three blocks in defeat. Despite posting just a 9-7 record in regular-season conference play, the Knights earned the fourth seed and a first-round bye -- though the free pass still could not save them from an early exit out of the tourney.

After the intermission, the Knights cut the deficit to just two points before the Golden Eagles responded with a 7-0 run. Craft converted from beyond the arc, stretching the Southern Mississippi advantage to 37-28 with 15:54 to play.

Central Florida trimmed the margin to four points with just 1:45 left in the affair, but each time UCF threatened, Southern Miss had an answer, keeping the Knights at bay with solid shooting at the charity stripe.

The Golden Eagles knocked down 8-of-12 free throws over the final 2:01 to ensure the victory, while Central Florida shot just 1-for-6 from the field down the stretch to seal its fate.

Just past the midway mark of the opening half, the squads had combined for merely 20 points. Courtney Beasley drained a jumper to give the Golden Eagles a 12-8 edge with 9:43 remaining.

Trailing by a point, Southern Miss used an 8-0 spurt to take the lead. Horton sparked the streak with a jumper, and he drained another with 1:57 to go that put the Golden Eagles on top, 26-19.

UCF closed the gap to 27-24 when Chip Cartwright connected on a jump shot with 1:02 left in the half, and the score held up as the teams headed to the locker rooms.