NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE (TICKER) -- If Vanderbilt is looking for an easy win, it might want to avoid another meeting with Middle Tennessee State.

Dwone Hicks' two-yard run with :52 remaining propelled the Blue Raiders to a second straight victory over Vanderbilt, 21-20.

Last year, Middle Tennessee State, which plays in the Sun Belt Conference, surprised Vanderbilt, a member of the powerhouse Southeastern Conference, 37-28.

In this contest, the Blue Raiders (1-5) led at the half, 14-3, before the Commodores mounted a comeback, taking a 20-14 lead on a three-yard run by Benji Walker with 8:30 to play.

But quarterback Andrico Hines led Middle Tennessee on a nine-play, 53-yard drive that was capped by Hicks' short run, and Vanderbilt (1-5) was blanked in the final minutes.

ReShard Lee paced the Blue Raiders with 144 yards on 28 carries. Hines was 8-of-17 for 82 yards and one interception.

Walker, who was making his first start for Vanderbilt, completed 13-of-23 attempts for 107 yards and two interceptions and ran for 79 yards and one TD. Walker replaced Jay Cutler, who was suspended by coach Bobby Johnson for a violation of team rules.