LaRon Dendy scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as Middle Tennessee defeated Florida Atlantic 72-59 Saturday night in Sun Belt Conference play.
With the victory, Middle Tennessee won the Sun Belt regular season title with a program-record 24th victory, and clinched the top seed in the conference tournament.
The Blue Raiders (24-4, 13-1), whose fourth straight victory was their 17th in the last 19 games, led 14-12 early before going on a 15-2 run. Five players scored in that stretch, Dendy getting six points as Middle Tennessee took a 32-22 halftime lead. Florida Atlantic (11-16, 7-7) fell behind by 18 points early in the second half.
Dendy, who went 5 for 10 from the floor and 10 for 13 from the foul line, was joined in double figures by J.T. Sulton and Raymond Cintron. Sulton scored 11 points, including 5 for 5 from the stripe. Cintron came off the bench to score 10 points, hitting two 3-pointers.
Shavar Richardson led Florida Atlantic with 16 points. Dennis Mavin and Kelvin Penn scored 10 apiece for the Owls.
