BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Nick Mullens threw a career-high five touchdown passes and rushed for another on Saturday as Southern Miss secured its first victory of the season, 62-27 over UAB.

The Golden Eagles (1-11, 1-7 Conference USA) trailed by eight points at the start of the third quarter. Mullens led a 28-0 rally with three touchdown passes and a 1-yard touchdown rush to put Southern Miss ahead by 20 points at the start of the fourth. He threw for 370 yards.

A loss to the Blazers would have given Southern Miss back-to-back winless seasons, something that has only happened once in the last 30 years.

Jonathan Perry threw two touchdown passes to Jamarcus Nelson, who finished with a game-high 117 yards receiving for UAB (2-10, 1-7). The Blazers are last in total defense in the Conference USA, allowing an average of 500.2 yards per game. Southern Miss amassed 472 yards in the matchup.