HATTIESBURG — Jeffery Wilson scored three touchdowns and North Texas reeled off 26 unanswered points to overcome a 21-7 deficit on the way to a 43-28 Conference USA win at Southern Miss Saturday night.

The Golden Eagles (2-2, 0-1 C-USA) took a 7-0 lead with 11:44 to play in the first quarter when quarterback Kwadra Griggs hit Allenzae Staggers with a 7-yard shovel pass to cap a 9-play drive, 75-yard  drive on their opening possession.

Griggs scored from four yards out with 5:38 remaining in the opening quarter to culminate a 7-play, 64-yard march to put the Golden Eagles up 14-0.

Wilson put North Texas (3-2, 1-0) on the board with 49 seconds left in the first quarter on a 46-yard run.

In the second quarter, Ito Smith broke free on a 65-yard run and the Golden Eagles extended their lead to 21-7 with 10 minutes to play in the quarter.

A 2-yard pass from quarterback  Mason Fine to Jalen Guyton pulled North Texas within 21-14 with 2:42 to play in the half.

The drive capped a 12-play, 95-yard march and ate up more than five minutes of the quarter.

The Mean Green added a 48-yard field goal from Trevor Moore as the half ended to make it a 21-17 ballgame.

North Texas settled for another Moore field goal from 20 yards on their first drive of the second half.

Fine found Rico Bussey with a 16-yard scoring strike to put the Mean Green on top 27-21 to cap a 6-play, 71-yard drive with 4:08 remaining in the third quarter.

Wilson then scored on a 43-yard run to extend the North Texas lead to 33-21 with 2:49 left in the quarter. The 2-point conversion attempt failed.

Southern Miss finally stopped the Mean Green scoring streak as Ito Smith capped a 9-play, 75-yard drive with a 4-yard run on the final play of the third quarter.

Wilson scored again from 6 yards out to cap another 75-yard march for North Texas to inrease the lead to 40-28 with 11:29 to play.

Moore added a 44-yard field goal to end the scoring with 4:30 remaining in the game.

The Golden Eagles will play at UT-San Antonio on Saturday at 6 p.m.