By GREG MENGELT

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Before the season, the Conference USA coaches picked Middle Tennessee as the worst team in the league.

On Saturday, Josh Jefferson and the Blue Raiders clinched the top seed out of the East Division by beating Western Kentucky 69-52 at the Murphy Center. The win was the Blue Raiders’ eighth in a row.

Middle Tennessee (22-7, 13-3) will enter the conference tournament at Frisco, Texas, on March 8 as a top seed, along with defending champion North Texas, which has won the West Division.

Middle Tennessee dominated the final 30 minutes Saturday. The Hilltoppers led 21-20, but a 3-pointer from freshman forward Christian Fussell gave the Raiders the lead for good.

Jefferson went 4 for 9 from the field and 2 for 7 from behind the 3-point line for 10 points. Sophomore Eli Lawrence had 15 points to lead the Raiders, who go to Charlotte (15-13, 8-8) on Wednesday. The game tips at 7 p.m. and will air on ESPN2.

Western Kentucky (17-12, 9-7), which had won seven in a row coming into Saturday’s contest, was led by sophomore guard Dayvion McKnight (Shelbyville, Ky./Collins) with 13 points, four rebounds and two assists.