Recap: Middle Tennessee vs. Fla Atlantic

Murfreesboro, TN (Sports Network) - Marcos Knight led the way with 13 points as the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders downed the Florida Atlantic Owls, 62-52, in a Sun Belt Conference showdown at the Murphy Center.

Neiko Hunter added 12 points for the Blue Raiders (13-4, 5-1 Sun Belt), while Bruce Massey chipped in with 10 points.

For the Owls (8-9, 3-3), Greg Gantt scored a game-high 23 points and Stefan Moody finished with 18 points but committed six turnovers.

Both teams shot well to start the game. Middle Tennessee connected on 53.8 percent from the field, but just 1-of-7 from 3-point range. Trailing early in the contest, the Blue Raiders scored the final 16 points of the half, allowing them to go into intermission leading 35-24. FAU shot 50 percent from the field in the first half but was held scoreless over the final seven minutes of the half.

Out of the break, the Blue Raiders continued their assault, opening the half on a 10-0 run to take complete control of the game. The Owls got as close as eight with less than three minutes to play in regulation, but the Blue Raiders were able to secure the victory, winning their 21st straight home game. Middle Tennessee shot 45.5 percent from the field in the second but again had trouble from long range, missing all but one of its six 3-point attempts. The Owls managed to make just 34.6 percent of their field goal tries in the half, but did hit 3-of-9 from beyond the arc.

Middle Tennessee dominated FAU down low, outscoring the Owls 34-10 in the paint. The Blue Raiders also had a 12-0 advantage on fast break points.