Mobile, AL -- (Sports Network) - Desmond Yates scored 19 points to lead the fourth-seeded Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders to a 65-59 victory over the 12th- seeded Troy Trojans in first round action of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament at the Mitchell Center.

Kevin Kanaskie and Demetrius Green both added 17 points apiece for MTU (16-14), which will now move on to the semifinal round to take on the top- seeded South Alabama Jaguars.

O'Darien Bassett scored 17 points for Troy (12-19), while Michael Vogler and Justin Jonus both chipped in 15 points apiece in the losing effort.

The Trojans went into the break with a slim 35-33 advantage over Middle Tennessee, thanks to a 58.8 percent shooting effort from the floor, and a perfect 10-of-10 clip from the foul line.

However, the Blue Raiders were much tougher at the defensive end of the floor in the second stanza, holding Troy to a pathetic 25.0 percent shooting effort en route to the six-point win.

MTU won the battle on the glass 29-15, and that led to a lopsided 26-13 advantage for the Blue Raiders for points scored in the paint.