The Blue Raiders fired the best round of the day - a 1-under-287 - to erase all of South Alabama's 12 shot lead after the first round. Middle Tennessee made up 12 shots and enters the final round tied with defending champion Denver for first at the par-72 Tradition Course at Cypresswood Golf Club.

"We still have work to do but what a day for these guys," Middle Tennessee Head Coach Whit Turnbow said. "I had no doubt our guys were going to come out and have this type of day. It's their character. They have a lot of fight in them. These Championships are not won in a day and our players have been in enough of them to know that. We didn't panic after getting behind in the first round; we just came out and did what we had to do. Now we have to do it again (Wednesday)."

How did the Blue Raiders make a 12-shot deficit evaporate all in a day? The team's 1-under featured Kent Bulle and Craig Smith shooting 1-under 71 (which was one shot off the best round of the day), Chas Narramore shot even-par 72 and Jason Millard was 1-over 73.

While the Blue Raiders were scorching the course, South Alabama came back to the pack with a 13-over 301 after shooting 5-under in Monday's first round. As a result, Moving Day at the SBC Men's Championship created quite the logjam on the leaderboard.

Six teams are separated by three shots at the top of the standings entering the final round. Up for grabs is not only the league championship but also the conference's automatic berth into the NCAA Regionals.

"There are no guarantees when it comes to the postseason unless you win your conference championship," junior Kent Bulle said. "We have a chance to win a conference championship and guarantee ourselves a spot in the NCAA Regional going into the last day of the league tournament so we put ourselves in position but now we have to finish. We put together a solid team effort today and that's what you have to do to overcome the deficit we faced."

Bulle is tied for third overall with two solid rounds of sub-par golf. He is 2-under-142 - two shots off the individual lead - and that total would be even better if not for a couple hiccups on the back nine where Bulle had three bogeys. He did help overcome those with consecutive pars to close another stellar round at the SBC Championships. He played the front at 2-under on the strength of three birdies.

Narramore jumped into a tie for 13th after he improved by three shots from the first round with his 72 Tuesday and is 3-over 147. Narramore's solid second round was highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 No. 12. He was 1-under after the front nine and helped ignite the Blue Raiders' charge with a strong start.

Millard is tied for 18th at 4-over 148 after shooting 1-over 73 Tuesday. The Blue Raider who made the biggest jump was Smith. His 1-under 71 Tuesday was one shot off the best rounds of the day and came on the heels of a 7-over 79 in the opening round. Key for Smith was his 1-under 35 on the back nine, which included consecutive pars on 17 and 18.

Rick Cochran is tied for 38th at 7-over 151. He played the back at 1-under after getting off to a tough start on the front.

Middle Tennessee will tee off in the final group beginning at 8:15 a.m. Wednesday.

SBC Men's Golf Championship
Houston, Texas
Cypresswood Golf Club - Tradition Course, Par-72
Second Round Team Scores
T1 Middle Tennessee 295-287 582 +6
T1 Denver 291-291 582 +6
3 South Alabama 283-301 584 +8
T4 UALR 290-295 585 +9
T4 New Orleans 294-291 585 +9
T4 North Texas 297-288 585 +9
7 Arkansas State 290-298 588 +12 8
Louisiana-Lafayette 298-293 591 +15
9 Troy 298-303 601 +25
10 ULM 306-298 604 +28
11 WKU 300-312 612 +36
12 Florida Atlantic 305-310 615 +39

T1 Middle Tennessee (582)
T3 Kent Bulle 71-71 142 -2
T13 Chas Narramore 75-72 147 +3
T18 Jason Millard 75-73 148 +4
T28 Craig Smith 79-71 150 +6
T38 Rick Cochran 74-77 151 +7