MOBILE, Ala. – Middle Tennessee built up a 17-point lead in the first half and held off several charges from the University of South Alabama men's basketball team to win 67-55 Saturday night at the Mitchell Center.

The Blue Raiders pick up their sixth victory in a row to improve to 8-1 on the year, while the Jags lose for the first time at home and drop to 6-2.

"I'm obviously disappointed to not only lose, but to lose at home," USA head coach Matthew Graves said. "I felt like we did compete. We played hard, we just didn't execute as sharply as we needed to, especially in the first half. I thought having 12 turnovers was a bad number to have in the first half, but we corrected some things and only turned it over four times in the second half.

"The 4-for-17 from the 3-point line… we had some good looks, but we have to be able to step up and make those shots. We just never got in a rhythm and were able to hit those wide open 3s. If you're going to beat a team as good as Middle Tennessee, you have to step up and make a few of those plays."

Despite falling behind early, South Alabama closed to within four early in the second half, and six midway through the period, but were unable to get any closer.

"I felt we were right there," Graves stated. "You get a play or two to go your way. There was a tough call that didn't go our way, but that's basketball. It happens. I told our guys we're not that far away, but at the same time we're not there yet. If we don't come with the mindset to get better and work hard when we get back together for practice, this kind of goes for naught. We're off to a good start at 6-2, but we're not satisfied."

The Jags went up 7-2 in the early going but the Blue Raiders turned the tide by scoring 24 of the next 26 points, including 18 in a row.

MT went 10 for 14 from the floor – 4 for 8 from 3-point land – in nine-plus minutes and got back-to-back 3-pointers from Giddy Potts to close out the run to go up 17.

On the other end, USA missed seven of its eight attempts, including all six from behind the arc, and committed five turnovers.

"I think we turned the ball over and we missed some shots, so that really affected our energy of our effort defensively for that segment," Graves noted. "I thought our 4s and 5s were stagnant. They weren't flashing and weren't being aggressive. Those guys, when they are playing that zone, our 4s and 5s need to be attacking and being stronger with the ball. I think our guards panicked a couple times, maybe drove where they wasn't anything there and missed a couple open shots. It was a lot of little things that added up to a big run."

The Jaguars closed the half on a 13-3 run, holding the Blue Raiders to just one field goal over the final 5:53, to get within seven at the break, and scored five of the first seven after intermission.

An old-fashioned three-point play from senior Georgi Boyanov (Lovech, Bulgaria) made the score 33-29 in the first minute of the second half, but triples on consecutive Middle Tennessee possessions pushed the lead back to double digits.

Six unanswered points – four from senior Nick Stover (Los Angeles, Calif.) – from the Jags midway through the period closed the margin to 50-44, but the Blue Raiders responded again, this time with five in a row, to lead by 11.

"That's what championship teams do," Graves said. "When teams cut it to four, five or six, they have a guy or two step up and make a play, make a 3, get a rebound or make an 'and-1.' That's why I think they are clearly an NCAA Tournament team. That's why I am encouraged because I don't think we're that far off. We had some guys who made some nice plays and had solid games. Overall, we just weren't good enough to beat a championship-level team today."

Seniors Don MuepoKelly (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Ken Williams (Houston, Texas) led the Jaguars with 12 points each. MuepoKelly tied his career high with three steals and added two assists, while Williams hit a pair of 3-pointers.

Boyanov was the third Jag in double-digits with 11 off the bench.

Middle Tennessee also had three in double figures, led by JaCorey Williams' game-high 16 and seven rebounds. Reggie Upshaw had 13 points, seven rebounds and a game-best six assists, and Potts also tallied 13 points.

The Jaguars return to action next Saturday with a road contest at Stetson.

NOTES: South Alabama's 55 points are a season low… Middle Tennessee has won nine in a row in the series, with seven coming by 10 points or more… USA's assist/turnover margin is plus-26 in wins and minus-22 in losses; it was minus-nine tonight… The Jags were outrebounded 36-20 on the night, including 26-4 on USA's offensive end of the floor… MuepoKelly did not block a shot, ending his run at 10 games in a row… MT entered the contest fifth in the nation with 9.9 turnovers per contest, but committed a season-high 17 tonight as the Jaguars racked up a season-best 10 steals… South Alabama allowed an opponent to shoot 50 percent from the floor for the first time this season… Boyanov has recorded double-digit points in back-to-back games for the first time in 2016-17… USA opponents are shooting 17-40 (.425) from the 3-point line in two wins and 28-115 (.243) in six losses; MT went 8-for-20 from distance tonight.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

—USA—