Sept. 1, 2007

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- Dustin Mouzon returned one of his two interceptions 99 yards for a touchdown and Mississippi stopped Memphis' potential game-tying 2-point conversion with 31 seconds left, handing the Tigers a 23-21 defeat Saturday.

Martin Hankins connected with Duke Calhoun on an 8-yard touchdown to pull Memphis within two points. But Hankins' pass was incomplete as Ole Miss (1-0) won its third straight in the series that dates to 1921.

Seth Adams threw for 201 yards and another touchdown for the Rebels.

Hankins finished with 343 yards on 41-of-60 passing.

The Rebels' special teams got on the board in the first half when they blocked a Memphis punt and recovered the loose ball in the end zone. Mouzon's scoring return came late in the half.

Neither team looked particularly sharp as Memphis (0-1) committed five turnovers and the Rebels had three fumbles.

The difference was the Rebels capitalized on the Tigers' mistakes, and Memphis squandered their opportunities, usually by committing turnovers.

As a result, Ole Miss led 20-0 at halftime.

Adams completed his first seven passes, one of them a 16-yard scoring toss to Greg Hardy on the first Ole Miss possession.

Mouzon was providing the defensive strength for Ole Miss, intercepting Hankins twice and recovering a fumble. On the second interception, Mouzon stepped in front of Calhoun near the end zone, and sprinted down the left sideline for a touchdown late in the half.

Between Hardy's touchdown catch and Mouzon's return, the Rebels benefited from another Tigers' mistake. Jamarca Sanford blocked a Memphis punt and the ball was recovered in the end zone by Kendrick Lewis for an Ole Miss touchdown.

Memphis rallied in the second half as Joseph Doss scored on a 1-yard run late in the third period, and reserve quarterback Matt Malouf added a 4-yard run in th fourth to set the stage for the final Memphis drive and Calhoun's touchdown catch.