Middle Tennessee holds off Tennessee State 69-66

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Giddy Potts scored 21 points with five 3-pointers as Middle Tennessee defeated Tennessee State 69-66 Saturday night.

The final 90 seconds were nail-biters as Potts made two free throws to give Middle Tennessee (1-1) a 65-63 lead and snagged a key rebound after Tennessee State's Marcus Roper missed a 3-point shot with 14 seconds left. Darnell Harris added a foul shot to give the Blue Raiders a four-point lead with seven seconds left in the game. A steal by Potts set up the free throws.

Harris added 16 points, including 7-for-12 at the foul line, Quavius Copeland scored 15 and Reggie Upshaw had 11 rebounds and four assists to go with 4 points. Upshaw's second basket boosted Middle Tennessee's lead back to three points, 68-65, with 21 seconds left.

Keron Deshields led the Tigers (2-2) with a career-high 28 points and Marcus Roper added 12.