Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Tuesday, December 22
Atlanta, GA
6:00 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
at
Georgia State
Men's Hoops to Shoot for Fourth Straight Win at GSU
12/21/2015 1:50:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MT Plays at GSU on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
MURFREESBORO – The Middle Tennessee men's basketball team will hit the road after the four-game home stand and travel to Atlanta, Ga. for a meeting with Georgia State on Dec. 22 at 6 p.m.
GAME INFORMATION
(FULL GAME NOTES)
Hashtag: #TrueFamily, #BlueRaiders
Twitter: MT_MBB
Instagram: @MT_MBB
Facebook: Blue Raider Athletics
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 22
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Teams: Middle Tennessee (7-2) at Georgia State (6-2)
Location: Atlanta, Ga.
Stadium: GSU Sports Arena (3,854)
TV: ESPN3
Radio: WMOT-FM (89.5), WGNS (1450 AM/100.5 FM/101.9 FM), Game 2 (102.5/94.9/95.1)
Play-by-Play: Dick Palmer
Analysis: Kyle Turnham
Live Audio/Live Streaming | Live Stats
GAME NOTES:
Dialed in Defense
The Middle Tennessee defense has been stout over the last three games and is only allowing opponents to shoot 36.0 percent from the field and 31.9 percent from beyond the three-point line. The Blue Raiders were able to limit offensively solid teams like VCU, Auburn and Belmont and their efforts have vaulted them to 50th, nationally, in field goal percentage defense (39.2).
Going to the Glass
Head Coach Kermit Davis has stayed true to his roots and his players are embracing his rebounding-first mantra. The Blue Raiders currently average 30.44 defensive rebounds per game, a mark that ranks them 12th among Div. I teams and 1st in C-USA. Guard Giddy Potts has been leading the way in the category and his 5.67 per game are pacing the team. Oddly enough, MT ranks 324th in offensive rebounds per game, averaging only 8.22 per game.
Start Me Up
A win against Georgia State on Tuesday would give MT an 8-2 record and its second-best start of the Kermit Davis era. In 2011-12, the Blue Raiders won a whopping 20 games before losing their third. A win over the Panthers could bode well for this year's team as that 2011-12 squad made it to the third round of the NIT and even defeated Tennessee in the postseason.
Hail Harris
Darnell Harris has been on a tear as of late averaging a team-high 15.8 points and scoring over 10 points in each of his last four games. The big man set a new career-high with three blocks against VCU and then eclipsed that with four stuffs versus South Alabama and Belmont. Harris is shooting 43.8 percent from the floor and 40.0 percent from deep over the stretch.
Fantastic Four
Just last season, Middle Tennessee did not have a single player average over 10 points per game. Reggie Upshaw was close at 9.9, but this season MT has four players in double-figures in Giddy Potts (14.8), Darnell Harris (12.3), Upshaw (11.4) and Perrin Buford.
Series History
On Tuesday, Middle Tennessee will square off against Georgia State for the 11th time in school history. The Blue Raiders hold an 8-2 advantage in the series but the sides have not met since Feb. 4, 1984 - an 84-61 win by MT. The Blue Raiders have won four in a row against the Panthers with their last loss coming on Feb. 1, 1983. MT is 4-1 all-time against GSU in Atlanta and have won the last two meetings. GSU last beat MT on its home court in 1973.
Stiff Competition
This season, the Blue Raiders scheduled a tough non-conference schedule that features six teams that had a winning record in 2014-15. The combined record of the scheduled non-conference foes in 2014-15 was 187-143. In addition, MT will face nine teams that reached the postseason a year ago.
Going Streaking
The Middle Tennessee men's basketball team has made a three-pointer in 611 consecutive games. The streak spans over 19 seasons and the last time MT did not make a three was Jan. 14, 1995 against Murray State.
60 is the Magic Number
The Blue Raiders' hallmark the last few years has been their defense and have hung their hats on limiting opposing offenses. Because of their tenacity on that side of the floor, MT has not had to put up a ton of points in order to win games. In fact, Middle Tennessee's magic number has been 60. Over the last five seasons, MT is 74-12 when scoring 60 or more points in a game.
Last Time Out
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 is the only team in the country to win multiple games inside the Murphy Center in the last five years. The Blue Raiders made sure that trend didn't continue, as MT's 21-point victory marked the largest winning margin over Belmont since Dec. 7, 1985. 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.
GAME INFORMATION
(FULL GAME NOTES)
Hashtag: #TrueFamily, #BlueRaiders
Twitter: MT_MBB
Instagram: @MT_MBB
Facebook: Blue Raider Athletics
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 22
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Teams: Middle Tennessee (7-2) at Georgia State (6-2)
Location: Atlanta, Ga.
Stadium: GSU Sports Arena (3,854)
TV: ESPN3
Radio: WMOT-FM (89.5), WGNS (1450 AM/100.5 FM/101.9 FM), Game 2 (102.5/94.9/95.1)
Play-by-Play: Dick Palmer
Analysis: Kyle Turnham
Live Audio/Live Streaming | Live Stats
GAME NOTES:
Dialed in Defense
The Middle Tennessee defense has been stout over the last three games and is only allowing opponents to shoot 36.0 percent from the field and 31.9 percent from beyond the three-point line. The Blue Raiders were able to limit offensively solid teams like VCU, Auburn and Belmont and their efforts have vaulted them to 50th, nationally, in field goal percentage defense (39.2).
Going to the Glass
Head Coach Kermit Davis has stayed true to his roots and his players are embracing his rebounding-first mantra. The Blue Raiders currently average 30.44 defensive rebounds per game, a mark that ranks them 12th among Div. I teams and 1st in C-USA. Guard Giddy Potts has been leading the way in the category and his 5.67 per game are pacing the team. Oddly enough, MT ranks 324th in offensive rebounds per game, averaging only 8.22 per game.
Start Me Up
A win against Georgia State on Tuesday would give MT an 8-2 record and its second-best start of the Kermit Davis era. In 2011-12, the Blue Raiders won a whopping 20 games before losing their third. A win over the Panthers could bode well for this year's team as that 2011-12 squad made it to the third round of the NIT and even defeated Tennessee in the postseason.
Hail Harris
Darnell Harris has been on a tear as of late averaging a team-high 15.8 points and scoring over 10 points in each of his last four games. The big man set a new career-high with three blocks against VCU and then eclipsed that with four stuffs versus South Alabama and Belmont. Harris is shooting 43.8 percent from the floor and 40.0 percent from deep over the stretch.
Fantastic Four
Just last season, Middle Tennessee did not have a single player average over 10 points per game. Reggie Upshaw was close at 9.9, but this season MT has four players in double-figures in Giddy Potts (14.8), Darnell Harris (12.3), Upshaw (11.4) and Perrin Buford.
Series History
On Tuesday, Middle Tennessee will square off against Georgia State for the 11th time in school history. The Blue Raiders hold an 8-2 advantage in the series but the sides have not met since Feb. 4, 1984 - an 84-61 win by MT. The Blue Raiders have won four in a row against the Panthers with their last loss coming on Feb. 1, 1983. MT is 4-1 all-time against GSU in Atlanta and have won the last two meetings. GSU last beat MT on its home court in 1973.
Stiff Competition
This season, the Blue Raiders scheduled a tough non-conference schedule that features six teams that had a winning record in 2014-15. The combined record of the scheduled non-conference foes in 2014-15 was 187-143. In addition, MT will face nine teams that reached the postseason a year ago.
Going Streaking
The Middle Tennessee men's basketball team has made a three-pointer in 611 consecutive games. The streak spans over 19 seasons and the last time MT did not make a three was Jan. 14, 1995 against Murray State.
60 is the Magic Number
The Blue Raiders' hallmark the last few years has been their defense and have hung their hats on limiting opposing offenses. Because of their tenacity on that side of the floor, MT has not had to put up a ton of points in order to win games. In fact, Middle Tennessee's magic number has been 60. Over the last five seasons, MT is 74-12 when scoring 60 or more points in a game.
Last Time Out
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 is the only team in the country to win multiple games inside the Murphy Center in the last five years. The Blue Raiders made sure that trend didn't continue, as MT's 21-point victory marked the largest winning margin over Belmont since Dec. 7, 1985. 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.
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
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