Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Thursday, January 21
Murfreesboro, TN
6:30 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
-135, 51 CUSA
86
vs
64
North Texas
-712, 24 CUSA
1
2
F
North Texas
32
32
64
Middle Tennessee
34
52
86
Team Stats
NT
MT
FG%
.434
.521
3FG%
.455
.333
FT%
.500
.364
RB
31
45
TO
17
13
STL
6
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
16
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G/F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballBuford’s first-career double-double leads MT
1/21/2016 9:23:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Raiders down North Texas 86-64
MURFREESBORO – The Blue Raiders continued their winning ways on Thursday night, racing past the North Texas Mean Green, 86-64, in front of 3,826 fans inside the Murphy Center on Social Media Night.
Middle Tennessee (13-5, 5-1) exploded for 86 points, marking the second-highest point total for the Blue Raiders this season, trailing only the 88 points scored in an overtime win against SEC opponent, Auburn. The 86 points against North Texas (7-12, 2-4) also pushed Middle Tennessee to its fifth-consecutive victory.
"We've won five in a row now in the league and two of those have been on the road," head coach Kermit Davis said. "It's good to play well and to come out and dominate in the second half was a good feeling."
Senior Perrin Buford sparked the offensive attack for the Blue Raiders, as he picked up his first-career double-double in a Blue Raider uniform.
Buford dropped 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting, while bringing down 11 rebounds to go with a game-high two blocks.
"It feels good," Buford said about his first-career double-double. "In junior college I pretty much got a double-double every night. This being my first one at the Division I level… it feels really good."
Junior forward Reggie Upshaw also tallied a double-double, posting 15 points (6-of-9 shooting) and 10 rebounds, while also tying his career high with four steals.
Buford and Upshaw's performances mark the first time this season where the Blue Raiders had two players register a double-double in a single game.
Sophomore guard Giddy Potts dropped 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting while Quavius Copeland added 11 points to round out the double-digit scorers for the Blue Raiders.
Blue Raider senior forward Darnell Harris got the scoring started for Middle Tennessee after converting a layup with 16:57 left in the first half.
Buford, not to be out-done, knocked down a three-pointer to give the Blue Raiders a 14-11 lead at the 13:13 mark.
Harris moved the Blue Raiders to their largest lead of the first half after converting another three, giving MT a 25-18 advantage with under four minutes to go.
A half-court heave from North Texas' J-Mychal Reese sank into the bottom of the net as the first half expired, leaving the Blue Raiders with a 34-32 lead going into the locker room.
In the second half, much like Reese's half-court shot, everything fell for the Blue Raiders.
MT converted 64.7 percent (22-of-34) of its shots in the second stanza as the Blue Raiders exploded to a 20-point lead with 2:48 left in the game.
Joshua Phillips tacked on a layup with 41 seconds remaining to give MT a 25-point cushion, with Middle Tennessee going on to the 86-64 victory.
The Blue Raiders will remain in the Murphy Center this weekend as they host Rice on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. in the Coaches Versus Cancer matchup.
Middle Tennessee (13-5, 5-1) exploded for 86 points, marking the second-highest point total for the Blue Raiders this season, trailing only the 88 points scored in an overtime win against SEC opponent, Auburn. The 86 points against North Texas (7-12, 2-4) also pushed Middle Tennessee to its fifth-consecutive victory.
"We've won five in a row now in the league and two of those have been on the road," head coach Kermit Davis said. "It's good to play well and to come out and dominate in the second half was a good feeling."
Senior Perrin Buford sparked the offensive attack for the Blue Raiders, as he picked up his first-career double-double in a Blue Raider uniform.
Buford dropped 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting, while bringing down 11 rebounds to go with a game-high two blocks.
"It feels good," Buford said about his first-career double-double. "In junior college I pretty much got a double-double every night. This being my first one at the Division I level… it feels really good."
Junior forward Reggie Upshaw also tallied a double-double, posting 15 points (6-of-9 shooting) and 10 rebounds, while also tying his career high with four steals.
Buford and Upshaw's performances mark the first time this season where the Blue Raiders had two players register a double-double in a single game.
Sophomore guard Giddy Potts dropped 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting while Quavius Copeland added 11 points to round out the double-digit scorers for the Blue Raiders.
Blue Raider senior forward Darnell Harris got the scoring started for Middle Tennessee after converting a layup with 16:57 left in the first half.
Buford, not to be out-done, knocked down a three-pointer to give the Blue Raiders a 14-11 lead at the 13:13 mark.
Harris moved the Blue Raiders to their largest lead of the first half after converting another three, giving MT a 25-18 advantage with under four minutes to go.
A half-court heave from North Texas' J-Mychal Reese sank into the bottom of the net as the first half expired, leaving the Blue Raiders with a 34-32 lead going into the locker room.
In the second half, much like Reese's half-court shot, everything fell for the Blue Raiders.
MT converted 64.7 percent (22-of-34) of its shots in the second stanza as the Blue Raiders exploded to a 20-point lead with 2:48 left in the game.
Joshua Phillips tacked on a layup with 41 seconds remaining to give MT a 25-point cushion, with Middle Tennessee going on to the 86-64 victory.
The Blue Raiders will remain in the Murphy Center this weekend as they host Rice on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. in the Coaches Versus Cancer matchup.
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
