By GREG MENGELT

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Former New Albany star Josh Jefferson had a bit off an off night shooting, but it didn’t matter. His Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders outscored Southern Mississippi 44-27 in the second half of Saturday’s 74-60 victory at the Murphy Center.

Jefferson, a senior and Middle Tennessee’s leading scorer at 13.1 points per game, went 6 for 15 from the field and missed all eight of his 3-point attempts. He also had four rebounds and a steal as the Blue Raiders won their third straight game.

Middle Tennessee (12-6, 3-2 C-USA) was led in scoring Saturday by senior guard Donovan Sims with 16 points. Led by freshman guard Teafale Lenard’s 12, the Raider bench outscored the Golden Eagles’ 33-4.

Southern Miss junior forward Tyler Stevens was the game’s high scorer with 20 points. He also had 11 boards for the Eagles, who are 6-12 after suffering their fourth loss in their last five games.

Jefferson and his teammates will look to stay hot Thursday when they go to Marshall (7-12, 0-6). The Thundering Herd, who have lost nine streak games, feature on the nation’s most prolific scorers in Taevion Kinsey. The game can be seen on ESPN Plus at 7 p.m.