Recap: Middle Tennessee vs. FIU

Murfreesboro, TN (Sports Network) - Shawn Jones recorded a double-double as the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders cruised by the FIU Panthers to a 69-52 decision in Sun Belt Conference action at the Murphy Center.

Jones scored 15 points, pulled-down 13 rebounds, and blocked four shots for Middle Tennessee (10-3, 2-0 SBC). Marcos Knight also netted 15 points and was one rebound shy of a double-double. Raymond Cintron chipped in 12 points off the bench for the Blue Raiders, who have now won three in a row.

For the Panthers (4-7, 1-3), Jerome Frink registered a double-double with 10 points and the same number of rebounds. Tymell Murphy scored a team- high 13 points and Malik Smith added 10 in the setback.

Middle Tennessee started the game on a 10-0 run, but both teams would struggle on the offensive end in the opening half. The Blue Raiders took a 28-21 lead into the intermission despite converting only 37.5 percent of their field goal attempts before the break.

After halftime, the Blue Raiders made 48.3 percent of their shots from the floor, including 3-of-6 from three-point range while limiting FIU to just 1- of-7 accuracy from beyond the arc.

Middle Tennessee dominated the rebounding battle, 43-27, and held the visitors to a meager 5-of-16 shooting from behind the 3-point line in the contest.