MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Xavian Stapleton scored 18 points off the bench, leading three others into double-figure scoring as Louisiana Tech beat Middle Tennessee 73-62 on Saturday night.

The freshman Stapleton matched his career high and went 5 of 8 from the field and 6 of 7 from the foul line. Louisiana Tech (18-6, 9-2 Conference USA), the two-time defending champs, rebounded from a loss to Alabama-Birmingham on Thursday. The Bulldogs are in a three-way tie with UAB and Western Kentucky atop the conference.

Alex Hamilton scored 16 for the Bulldogs, Raheem Appleby added 15 and Michale Kyser 12 with 11 rebounds. Stapleton added four steals and Kenneth Smith dished seven assists.

Reggie Upshaw Jr. led Middle Tennessee (13-11, 6-5) with a career-high 21 points and Marcus Tarrance added 14. The Blue Raiders shot just 40 percent (23 of 57), with 15 turnovers and 20 fouls. Louisiana Tech scored 17 points at the line.