MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Marcus Tarrance scored 18 points to lead Middle Tennessee in a 66-48 victory over Southern in the Emerald Coast Classic on Saturday.

Middle Tennessee (2-1) which held a 38-26 halftime lead, came out hot in the second half as Edward Simpson Jr. hit two 3-pointers in a row to start an 18-7 run. The Blue Raiders led 56-33 with 12:00 left in the game.

Simpson finished with 10 points and Perrin Buford and Jaqawn Raymond added nine apiece.

The Blue Raiders nailed 7 of 15 attempts from beyond the arc as Simpson, Raymond and Tarrance were all 2-for-2. Middle Tennessee made 23 of 53 field goal attempts while limiting Southern to 33.3 percent (15-45). The Blue Raiders also won the rebound battle, pulling down 40, compared to Southern's 27.

Adrian Rodgers scored 12 points and Cameron Monroe had 11 to lead Southern (1-3).