Middle Tennessee blasts South Alabama 85-50

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) — Bruce Massey scored 12 points and four others reached double figures as Middle Tennessee clobbered South Alabama 85-50 Thursday night for its second consecutive Sun Belt Conference regular season title.

The Blue Raiders (24-4, 16-1) also clinched the top seed in the Sun Belt tournament.

Middle Tennessee, which has won 13 straight, scored the first 13 points of the game, led 41-26 at halftime and coasted. This was easier than its 60-56 win at South Alabama (15-10, 12-5) on Jan. 2.

The Blue Raiders also got double-figure scoring from Marcos Knight (11 points), Neiko Hunter (11), Shawn Jones (10) and Kerry Hammond (10).

Augustine Rubit had a 13-point, 12-rebound double-double for the Jaguars. Mychal Ammons also scored 13.

Middle Tennessee shot 25 for 54 (46.3 percent) to South Alabama’s 14 of 49 (28.6 percent), and had a 40-5 edge in bench scoring and 33-10 in points off turnovers.