Cincinnati beats Middle Tennessee 69-51

NICEVILLE, Fla. (AP) Troy Caupain scored 11 points and Jermaine Sanders chipped in 10 as Cincinnati beat Middle Tennessee 69-51 in the semifinals of the Emerald Coast Classic on Friday night.

The Bearcats scored 12-straight points to start the game, and Middle Tennessee did not get on the board until Joshua Phillips scored four points with just under 12 minutes left in the first half. Middle Tennessee entered the break with a 39-17 lead after closing out the half with six-straight points.

Sanders was 3 of 3 from 3-point range, and Caupain shot 3 of 6 from the floor. The Bearcats (5-0) shot 56.8 percent from the field (25 of 54).

Darnell Harris scored 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting, and Jacquez Rozier added 10 points for Middle Tennessee (3-2).

Cincinnati will play in the championship game on Saturday.