By GREG MENGELT

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Former New Albany star Josh Jefferson scored a team-best 11 points as Middle Tennessee improved to 2-0 with a 71-51 win over visiting Bethune-Cookman on Friday evening.

Jefferson, a senior transfer from Green Bay, went 3-for-9 from the floor, 2-for-7 from 3-point range and made 3 of his 4 free throw attempts. Jefferson also had four rebounds, a steal, an assist and a blocked shot for the Blue Raiders, who forced 20 Bethune-Cookman turnovers and held the Wildcats to 19 of 41 shooting.

Jefferson got the Raiders started with a 3-pointer his second 3 put Middle Tennesse up 20-18 with 8:12 to go in the first half. Middle Tennessee led 35-23 at the half and got the lead to as much as 22 at 53-31 with 12:11 remaining.

Junior DeAndre Dishman and sophomore Isaiah Turner scored 10 apiece for the Raiders, who will try to make it 3-0 when they host a very good Winthrop team at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

The game’s leading scorer was Bethune-Cookman sophomore Joe French, who had 18 in the loss. The Wildcats are now 0-2.