By GREG MENGELT

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Josh Jefferson had perhaps his best all-around game of the season, but it wasn’t enough in Middle Tennessee’s 97-75 loss to UAB at Bartow Arena in Birmingham.

A New Albany graduate and Blue Raider senior, Jefferson led his team in scoring, rebounds and assists in Saturday’s loss, which dropped the Middle Tennessee to 14-7 overall and 5-3 in Conference USA. Jefferson finished with 19 points, six rebounds and three assists. He was 6 for 10 from the field, including 4 of 6 from behind the 3-point stripe, and made three of his four free throw attempts.

UAB, which led 48-39 at the half and pushed the advantage to 87-66 with 6:54 left, got 42 points, four assists, four steals and three rebounds from star junior Jordan Walker. The Blazers have won five of their last six game to improve to 18-5 overall and 8-2 in league play.

The Raiders, who entered the game on a 5-game winning streak, hosts Texas-San Antonio on Monday at 7 p.m. UTSA (8-16, 1-10 CUSA) has lost three straight and none of its last 10 games.