Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Thursday, January 7
Murfreesboro, TN
6:00 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
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UTEP (ASN)
Men's Hoops Returns Home to Face UTEP, Thursday
1/6/2016 3:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Tip-off time is scheduled for 6 p.m.
MURFREESBORO – The Middle Tennessee men's basketball team will hold its C-USA home opener on Thursday night when the squad hosts UTEP at 6 p.m.
GAME INFORMATION
(FULL GAME NOTES)
Hashtag: #TrueFamily, #BlueRaiders
Twitter: MT_MBB
Instagram: @MT_MBB
Facebook: Blue Raider Athletics
Date: Thursday, Jan. 7
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Teams: Middle Tennessee (8-5) vs UTEP (10-5)
Location: Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Stadium: The Murphy Center (11,520)
TV: American Sports Network
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: Chip Walters
Analysis: Kyle Turnham
Live Audio/Live Streaming | Live Stats
GAME NOTES:
He's Baaack!
Giddy Potts is expected to play on Thursday against UTEP after missing the last four games with an academic issue. The team was averaging 3.7 fewer points per game and the Blue Raider guards were scoring 24.5 points per game, down from 36.5 with Potts in the lineup. Most importantly however, MT was 1-3 without Potts and 7-2 before that.
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 28.6 defensive rebounds per game, a mark that ranks them 38th among Div. I teams and 2nd 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 310th in offensive rebounds per game, averaging only 8.9 per game.
Home, Sweet Home
Thursday's matchup against UTEP marks the home conference opener for Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders have been exceptional in such games under Kermit Davis and are 10-3 in his 13 seasons as head coach. MT is 1-1 in home conference openers since joining C-USA with an overtime win over UAB in 2014 and a loss to the Blazers last year.
Upping His Game
Reggie Upshaw has been playing extremely well in Giddy Potts's absence and has had four staright games with over 10 points. The forward is averaging 21 points per game, nine rebounds per game and is shooting 71.2 percent over the stretch. He has been even better in his last two games, averaging a team-best 26.5 points per game.
Lights, Camera, Action!
The Middle Tennessee men's basketball team has been a hot commodity in the past few seasons are now reaping the benefits. This week's games against UTEP and UTSA will be broadcast on ASN, bringing the number of televised games for the Blue Raiders this year up to 16. The Blue Raiders will have four games on CBSSN, eight on ASN, one on FCS and three on FSN.
Series History
On Thursday, Middle Tennessee will square off against UTEP for the fourth time in school history. The Miners hold a 2-1 advantage in the series and have won both regular season meetings. MT defeated UTEP in last season's C-USA Semifinal, 53-50. This will be the second meeting at the Murphy Center and UTEP ended MT's 25-game home conference winning streak in 2014.
And Your Point Is...?
With Jacob Ivory's start against Trevecca, MT has now started all three PGs this season. The Blue Raiders are 4-2 in Copeland's starts, 3-3 in Raymond's and 1-0 in Ivory's. MT is averaging nearly 10 points more per game when Ivory starts, but also over two assists less in the small sample size.
Last Time Out
The Middle Tennessee men's basketball team led by 12 at halftime but ended up falling to UAB, 78-67, on Sunday afternoon at Bartow Arena. Reggie Upshaw paced the Blue Raiders (8-5, 0-1 C-USA) for the second straight game with 21 points, 15 of which came in the first half. Darnell Harris poured in 11 first-half points and ended with 16. Middle Tennessee turned in its finest first half of the season shooting 66.7 percent from the field (14-of-21) and 64.3 percent (9-of-14) from deep. The defense also held UAB to 48 percent (12-of-25) shooting during the opening 20 minutes and MT had a 15-7 edge in team rebounds. The Blazers flipped the script during the second stanza as the Blue Raiders shot just 20 percent (6-of-30) from the field and 18.2 percent (2-of-11) from beyond the arc.
GAME INFORMATION
(FULL GAME NOTES)
Hashtag: #TrueFamily, #BlueRaiders
Twitter: MT_MBB
Instagram: @MT_MBB
Facebook: Blue Raider Athletics
Date: Thursday, Jan. 7
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Teams: Middle Tennessee (8-5) vs UTEP (10-5)
Location: Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Stadium: The Murphy Center (11,520)
TV: American Sports Network
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: Chip Walters
Analysis: Kyle Turnham
Live Audio/Live Streaming | Live Stats
GAME NOTES:
He's Baaack!
Giddy Potts is expected to play on Thursday against UTEP after missing the last four games with an academic issue. The team was averaging 3.7 fewer points per game and the Blue Raider guards were scoring 24.5 points per game, down from 36.5 with Potts in the lineup. Most importantly however, MT was 1-3 without Potts and 7-2 before that.
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 28.6 defensive rebounds per game, a mark that ranks them 38th among Div. I teams and 2nd 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 310th in offensive rebounds per game, averaging only 8.9 per game.
Home, Sweet Home
Thursday's matchup against UTEP marks the home conference opener for Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders have been exceptional in such games under Kermit Davis and are 10-3 in his 13 seasons as head coach. MT is 1-1 in home conference openers since joining C-USA with an overtime win over UAB in 2014 and a loss to the Blazers last year.
Upping His Game
Reggie Upshaw has been playing extremely well in Giddy Potts's absence and has had four staright games with over 10 points. The forward is averaging 21 points per game, nine rebounds per game and is shooting 71.2 percent over the stretch. He has been even better in his last two games, averaging a team-best 26.5 points per game.
Lights, Camera, Action!
The Middle Tennessee men's basketball team has been a hot commodity in the past few seasons are now reaping the benefits. This week's games against UTEP and UTSA will be broadcast on ASN, bringing the number of televised games for the Blue Raiders this year up to 16. The Blue Raiders will have four games on CBSSN, eight on ASN, one on FCS and three on FSN.
Series History
On Thursday, Middle Tennessee will square off against UTEP for the fourth time in school history. The Miners hold a 2-1 advantage in the series and have won both regular season meetings. MT defeated UTEP in last season's C-USA Semifinal, 53-50. This will be the second meeting at the Murphy Center and UTEP ended MT's 25-game home conference winning streak in 2014.
And Your Point Is...?
With Jacob Ivory's start against Trevecca, MT has now started all three PGs this season. The Blue Raiders are 4-2 in Copeland's starts, 3-3 in Raymond's and 1-0 in Ivory's. MT is averaging nearly 10 points more per game when Ivory starts, but also over two assists less in the small sample size.
Last Time Out
The Middle Tennessee men's basketball team led by 12 at halftime but ended up falling to UAB, 78-67, on Sunday afternoon at Bartow Arena. Reggie Upshaw paced the Blue Raiders (8-5, 0-1 C-USA) for the second straight game with 21 points, 15 of which came in the first half. Darnell Harris poured in 11 first-half points and ended with 16. Middle Tennessee turned in its finest first half of the season shooting 66.7 percent from the field (14-of-21) and 64.3 percent (9-of-14) from deep. The defense also held UAB to 48 percent (12-of-25) shooting during the opening 20 minutes and MT had a 15-7 edge in team rebounds. The Blazers flipped the script during the second stanza as the Blue Raiders shot just 20 percent (6-of-30) from the field and 18.2 percent (2-of-11) from beyond the arc.
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Players Mentioned
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