MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Darnell Harris scored 21 points as Middle Tennessee held off UTEP for a 78-72 Conference USA victory on Thursday night.
Reggie Upshaw had 12 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for Middle Tennessee (9-5, 1-1).
Middle Tennessee led most of the game until Dominic Artis nailed a trey with 15:02 left to give UTEP a 47-45 advantage. Harris answered with a jump shot and Upshaw hit another to give the Blue Raiders a 49-47 lead and they never trailed again.
UTEP closed to 74-72 with 26 seconds left following two Lee Moore free throws.