HOUSTON (AP) -Desmond Yates scored 32 points to lead Middle Tennessee to an 89-77 win over Houston Baptist on Saturday night.
Yates hit 13 of his 18 field goal attempts and all six of his free throws. Demetrius Green added 22 points for Middle Tennessee (15-9). Nigel Johnson scored 13, and Kevin Kanaskie added 10.
Gordon Watt led Houston Baptist (3-21) with 20 points. Baron Sauls added 15. Andrew Puzyk and Sean Morris scored 13 each.
Middle Tennessee outscored Houston Baptist 6-2 over the final 1:51 of the first half to take a 41-38 halftime lead. Houston Baptist kept the game close until midway through the second half when Middle Tennessee began to pull away.
