MURFREESBORO, Tenn., March 14 (UPI) -- LaRon Dendy scored 18 points Tuesday to lead Middle Tennessee to an 86-78 decision over Marshall in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament.
JT Sulton added 16 points for the Blue Raiders (26-6), who move on to face in-state rival Tennessee in the next round.
Shawn Jones racked up 15 points off the Middle Tennessee bench and Raymond Cintron netted 12.
Damier Pitts led Marshall (21-14) with 19 points. Dennis Tinnon finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
The Blue Raiders shot 53.6 percent from the field to take a 39-30 lead into the intermission. Marshall improved after the break and hit 6-of-11 from 3-point range, while converting 12-of-16 from the free-throw line.
Middle Tennessee made 51.5 percent of its field goal attempts in the final 20 minutes to stay on top.
