HATTIESBURG (AP) — Dasman McCullum made plays all over the field for Southern Miss. None were bigger than the one he made just by putting his hand up.

McCullum, a senior defensive end, blocked an extra-point attempt with 6 seconds remaining and Southern Miss beat Appalachian State 21-20 Saturday night.

“I just knew we had to make a play,” said McCullum, who had 10 total tackles, including two for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. “I know (Rakeem Nunez-Roches) had been getting good pressure on the field goal blocks, so I said, ‘Nunez, you make the pressure and I am going to block it,’ and I just happened to stick my hand up at the right time and block the field goal.”

ASU’s Taylor Lamb threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Simms McElfresh in the back corner of the end zone to get the Mountaineers within a point. But Zach Matics, who had a field goal blocked and missed two others, had his extra point attempt swatted away by McCullum, capping a frantic final 8 minutes.

Appalachian State (1-2) tied the game at 14 on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Lamb to Malachi Jones with 5:08 to play.

But Southern Miss (2-2) immediately responded, going 65 yards in six plays to take a 21-14 lead with 2:22 remaining on a 31-yard touchdown pass from Nick Mullens to George Payne.

It was only the third catch of the sophomore’s career and his first this season. Payne scored on runs of 15 and 3 yards to give the Golden Eagles a 14-7 halftime lead.

Running back Marcus Cox, who rushed for 119 yards on 22 carries, scored on a 5-yard run in the second quarter for the Mountaineers.

Lamb, in his first career start, completed 28 of 40 passes for 264 yards. The freshman threw two touchdowns with two interceptions.

Mullens completed 22 of 35 passes for 268 yards, with a touchdown and two interceptions.

Appalachian State, playing its first year as a Football Bowl Subdivision member, outgained the Golden Eagles 455 total yards to 329, ripped off 26 more snaps and had nearly a 12-minute advantage in time of possession.

But Matics missed field goals of 43 yards and 42 yards and had a 36-yarder blocked. The Mountaineers also lost a red-zone opportunity when McCullum stripped Cox of the ball at the USM 7 on Appalachian State’s first play following a Mullens interception.