Middle Tennessee breezes past Southern Miss 69-49

Jan 14, 2018, 01:50 am

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Brandon Walters totaled 19 points and eight rebounds and Giddy Potts added 14 points, seven boards, three assists and two steals to power Middle Tennessee to a 69-49 victory over Southern Mississippi on Saturday.

Potts scored nine points in the first 3 1/2 minutes -- sandwiching two 3-pointers around a 3-point play -- as the Blue Raiders (13-4, 5-0 Conference USA) jumped out to an 11-0 lead and never looked back. Nick King snagged 10 rebounds to help Middle Tennessee control the boards 50-23.

Tyree Griffin had 21 points to pace the Golden Eagles (9-10, 2-4), while LaDavius Draine finished with 14 points and nine rebounds and Cortez Edwards scored 10.

Draine scored the last five points of the first half to pull Southern Miss within 30-24 at intermission. But Walters scored six in a 12-6 run to open the second half to put the Blue Raiders up 42-30. A 3-pointer from Edward Simpson pushed the lead to 21 and Middle Tennessee coasted from there.

The Golden Eagles shot 35 percent from the floor, 17 percent from distance and had just three assists.