BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) Reggie Upshaw scored 18 points, including three 3-pointers, with eight rebounds, Giddy Potts had 14 points and five steals and No. 1 seed Middle Tennessee beat UTEP 82-56 on Friday in the Conference USA Tournament semifinals.

JaCorey Williams added 13 points and Antwain Johnson scored 11 for Middle Tennessee (29-4), which will face No. 2 seed Louisiana Tech or sixth-seeded Marshall in the championship game on Saturday.

Paul Thomas' jumper to open the scoring gave fourth-seeded UTEP its only lead before six Blue Raiders scored during 17-5 run to open a 10-point lead. Johnson hit back-to-back 3s to spark a 12-3 run and push lead into double figures for good when Williams hit a jumper that made it 37-21 with 35 seconds left in the half. Middle Tennessee took its biggest lead, 72-45, on a layup by Williams with 5:11 to play.