MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Roman Gagliano threw for a touchdown and scrambled for another to lead Middle Tennessee to a 31-17 victory over Sam Houston on Saturday for the Blue Raiders' first Conference USA win of the season while ending a seven-game losing streak.

With the score tied at 10, Gagliano threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Jekail Middlebrook with 5 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter then made his way to the end zone for a 33-yard touchdown early in the fourth.

Gagliano, a freshman making his second start, sealed the outcome with a 2-yard TD run with just over two minutes remaining before the Bearkats added a final touchdown.

The Bearkats (2-9, 1-6) had taken a 10-0 lead in the first quarter on a 38-yard field goal by Christian Pavon and Landyn Locke's deep pass down the right si

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