WKU (22-8 overall, 14-3 C-USA) will close its regular season Saturday at Alabama-Birmingham (18-12, 9-8). Tipoff between the Toppers and Blazers is set for 7 p.m. at Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Ala.
WKU goes to Birmingham looking for a return to form from the previous three weeks. The Hilltoppers won six straight games from Feb. 8 to Feb. 24, with those victories coming by an average 17.7 points.
Middle Tennessee (24-5, 16-1) took control with a 9-2 run in the final two minutes of the first half, going into halftime up 43-34. The Blue Raiders stayed in charge, outscoring the Tops 39-30 in the second half.