By GREG MENGELT

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — It’s been a hot start for Josh Jefferson and his Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders. On Tuesday, the New Albany graduate scored five points in his team’s 76-65 win over a Winthrop team expected to be an NCAA Tournament team — and a potential Cinderella — in March.

Jefferson led the team in assists and steals with three each. He was 1-for-5 from the field and perfect at the line in 3 attempts. His 3-point play gave Middle Tennessee a 53-45 lead with 13:17 left to play. That was the Raiders’ largest lead of the night.

Winthrop, which came in 2-0 off victories over Mary Baldwin and Mercer, led 36-33 at the half. However, the Blue Raiders scored the first 10 points of the second half and never trailed again. The Eagles cut the deficit to 57-54 before Middle Tennessee closed on a 19-11 run.

It was the first game Jefferson didn’t lead the Raiders in scoring. That honor belonged to junior forward Deandre Dishman and senior guard Donovan Sims, who had 16 points apiece Tuesday. D.J. Burns and Josh Corbin scored 14 each for the Eagles, who were just 10-of-19 from the foul line.

Middle Tennessee, which won despite shooting just 43.6 percent overall and 22.2 percent from 3-point line, goes to Stephen F. Austin for its next contest Friday. The Lumberjacks are 2-1 and moved to the Western Athletic Conference during the offseason. Jefferson and the Raiders can be seen on ESPN Plus on Friday.