Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Thursday, December 17
Murfreesboro, TN
6:00 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
7-2
83
vs
62
Belmont (ASN)
7-5
1
2
F
Belmont University
35
27
62
Middle Tennessee
46
37
83
Team Stats
BEL
MT
FG%
.377
.464
3FG%
.300
.318
FT%
.583
.632
RB
36
46
TO
17
9
STL
1
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
20
FGM
9
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G/F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballMT Leaps Past Belmont, 83-62
12/17/2015 7:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Buford scores a season-high 20 points
By Connor Grott, GBR Beat Writer
MURFREESBORO – Middle Tennessee's athleticism was out in full force Thursday night, as the Blue Raiders used solid defense to cruise past the Belmont Bruins, 83-62, in the Murphy Center on Star Wars Night.
Belmont (7-5) is the only team in the country to win multiple games inside the Murphy Center in the last five years.The Blue Raiders (7-2) made sure that trend didn't continue, as MT's 21-point victory marked the largest winning margin over Belmont since Dec. 7, 1985.
"They've had their way with us a little bit," MT head coach Kermit Davis said. "They've won some really good, hard-fought games against us. Tonight, we just played a really complete game. I thought all facets of our game were good tonight."
Middle Tennessee's stifling defense played a major part in the victory.Belmont came into Thursday's matchup averaging 84.5 points per game with a 51.2 field goal percentage.
By limiting the Bruins' perimeter shooters, the Blue Raiders held Belmont to 62 points (second-lowest total this season) and a 37.7 shooting percentage.
MT also combined for eight blocks and eight steals, as the Blue Raiders forced 17 Belmont turnovers that led to 26 points.
"Coach [Davis] told us to get out and overplay the wings and pressure the ball," MT senior forward Perrin Buford said. "He wanted us to make sure we made them uncomfortable, so that's what me and my teammates did."
Buford had a solid scoring day, posting a season-high 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting, including a career-high two made three pointers.He also added seven rebounds, and finished second on the Blue Raiders with three assists.
MT senior forward Darnell Harris, who received stitches after suffering a laceration over his left eye, dropped 13 points and tallied team-highs in blocks (four) and rebounds (eight).
Sophomore guard Giddy Potts rounded out the double-digit scorers after adding 15 points and six rebounds.
Harris got the scoring going for Middle Tennessee after knocking down a wide-open jumper 58 seconds into the game.
Harris wound up scoring the opening five points for the Blue Raiders to tie the game at 5-5 at the 16:39 mark.
Sophomore guard Quavius Copeland, who had nine points, showed flashes of brilliance during Thursday's victory.
With 11:53 remaining in the first half, Copeland drained a contested jumper to give MT a 16-9 advantage.
Copeland dropped in another jumper with 8:20 left in the first stanza, giving MT its first double-digit lead of the contest, 24-14.
With 2:22 left in the opening half, Buford sank a mid-range jumper to push the Blue Raiders to a 37-31 lead.
Buford's basket sparked an 11-4 run by the Blue Raiders to close out the first half, capped off by a flashy Copeland layup at the buzzer to give the Blue Raiders a 46-35 halftime lead.
The second half proved to be all Blue Raiders.
Buford jump-started Middle Tennessee with a layup two minutes into the second half of play, giving MT a 48-35 lead.
The Blue Raiders pushed their lead to 20 after an Ed Simpson free throw found the bottom of the net, capping off a 12-5 MT run with 10:22 left in the game.
That run was due in large part to MT's defense, as Belmont converted one of its last seven field goals up until a layup by Craig Bradshaw with 8:03 left.
Reggie Upshaw slammed home a dunk with 4:24 remaining in the game to give the Blue Raiders a 25-point cushion, with MT eventually going on to pick up the 21-point victory.
Middle Tennessee will hit the road to take on Georgia State in its next matchup. Tip off is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.
MURFREESBORO – Middle Tennessee's athleticism was out in full force Thursday night, as the Blue Raiders used solid defense to cruise past the Belmont Bruins, 83-62, in the Murphy Center on Star Wars Night.
Belmont (7-5) is the only team in the country to win multiple games inside the Murphy Center in the last five years.The Blue Raiders (7-2) made sure that trend didn't continue, as MT's 21-point victory marked the largest winning margin over Belmont since Dec. 7, 1985.
"They've had their way with us a little bit," MT head coach Kermit Davis said. "They've won some really good, hard-fought games against us. Tonight, we just played a really complete game. I thought all facets of our game were good tonight."
Middle Tennessee's stifling defense played a major part in the victory.Belmont came into Thursday's matchup averaging 84.5 points per game with a 51.2 field goal percentage.
By limiting the Bruins' perimeter shooters, the Blue Raiders held Belmont to 62 points (second-lowest total this season) and a 37.7 shooting percentage.
MT also combined for eight blocks and eight steals, as the Blue Raiders forced 17 Belmont turnovers that led to 26 points.
"Coach [Davis] told us to get out and overplay the wings and pressure the ball," MT senior forward Perrin Buford said. "He wanted us to make sure we made them uncomfortable, so that's what me and my teammates did."
Buford had a solid scoring day, posting a season-high 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting, including a career-high two made three pointers.He also added seven rebounds, and finished second on the Blue Raiders with three assists.
MT senior forward Darnell Harris, who received stitches after suffering a laceration over his left eye, dropped 13 points and tallied team-highs in blocks (four) and rebounds (eight).
Sophomore guard Giddy Potts rounded out the double-digit scorers after adding 15 points and six rebounds.
Harris got the scoring going for Middle Tennessee after knocking down a wide-open jumper 58 seconds into the game.
Harris wound up scoring the opening five points for the Blue Raiders to tie the game at 5-5 at the 16:39 mark.
Sophomore guard Quavius Copeland, who had nine points, showed flashes of brilliance during Thursday's victory.
With 11:53 remaining in the first half, Copeland drained a contested jumper to give MT a 16-9 advantage.
Copeland dropped in another jumper with 8:20 left in the first stanza, giving MT its first double-digit lead of the contest, 24-14.
With 2:22 left in the opening half, Buford sank a mid-range jumper to push the Blue Raiders to a 37-31 lead.
Buford's basket sparked an 11-4 run by the Blue Raiders to close out the first half, capped off by a flashy Copeland layup at the buzzer to give the Blue Raiders a 46-35 halftime lead.
The second half proved to be all Blue Raiders.
Buford jump-started Middle Tennessee with a layup two minutes into the second half of play, giving MT a 48-35 lead.
The Blue Raiders pushed their lead to 20 after an Ed Simpson free throw found the bottom of the net, capping off a 12-5 MT run with 10:22 left in the game.
That run was due in large part to MT's defense, as Belmont converted one of its last seven field goals up until a layup by Craig Bradshaw with 8:03 left.
Reggie Upshaw slammed home a dunk with 4:24 remaining in the game to give the Blue Raiders a 25-point cushion, with MT eventually going on to pick up the 21-point victory.
Middle Tennessee will hit the road to take on Georgia State in its next matchup. Tip off is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.
Facility tour – Stephen and Denise Smith Student-Athlete Performance Center
Wednesday, July 30
2025 Blue Raider Blitz Media Panel
Thursday, July 03
MTSU Men's Basketball Coach Nick McDevitt interview at 2025 Blue Raider Blitz
Monday, June 30
MTSU Men's Basketball Post Game Press Conference vs Chattanooga NIT 3/18/25
Tuesday, March 18
