Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Sunday, November 27
Nashville, TN
5:30 PM
Middle Tennessee
6-1
66
vs
55
Evansville
2-4
1
2
F
Evansville
29
26
55
Middle Tennessee
29
37
66
Team Stats
UE
MT
FG%
.425
.481
3FG%
.300
.357
FT%
.667
.647
RB
31
29
TO
17
10
STL
3
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
25
FGM
11
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
Raiders sweep Challenge in Music City
11/27/2016 8:02:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MT downs Evansville 66-55 in finale
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Challenge in Music City title got a little sweeter for Middle Tennessee Sunday as it capped an undefeated run through the tournament by beating Evansville 66-55.
"I thought tonight we found ourselves a little bit better defensively," MT head coach Kermit Davis said. "I thought we really had some good bench play and defended at a high level in the first half."
Just as they did in the first two games of the tourney, the Blue Raiders (6-1) used tough defense to get by the Purple Aces (2-4).
Evansville started out hot, hitting six of its first 10 shots from the field in the first 10 minutes of the ballgame, but then Middle Tennessee's defense clamped down. After trailing 22-12 at the midway point of the half, the Raiders used a 17-7 run to even the score at the break. The Purple Aces hit just two of their 10 shots in that stretch and turned the ball over seven times.
"We really had a nice gameplan for all three games," redshirt senior JaCorey Williams said. "We just talked about team defense against their good guards … I think our bigs did a good job of stepping up and helping on them."
Middle Tennessee held Evansville to just a 42.5 shooting percentage for the game (17-40), and over the three games in the tournament held opponents to just 38 percent shooting from the field.
"These three-straight games helped us in our man-to-man defense," Davis said. "I thought we guarded in the halfcourt much better tonight, and I thought we challenged shots and were more connected as a team defensively."
In the second half, the Blue Raiders pulled away behind a strong offensive effort from their leading scorer, Williams.
He scored 13 of his team-high 25 points in the second half and finished 11-for-18 from the field. It was his fourth 20-plus point game of the season, and he also recorded his first career double-double with a career-high 10 rebounds.
"I was really active tonight, and I'm proud I got my first double-double," he said.
Williams scored 24 points per game in the three-game tournament and was named Challenge in Music City MVP. Junior Giddy Potts was named to the all-tournament team.
"I just try to do whatever I can to help the team win, whether its score, rebound, bring the intensity – whatever I need to do, I just try to help my team win," Williams said.
Senior Reggie Upshaw added 14 points Sunday on 5-for-12 shooting, and Potts had eight points including a 2-for-4 effort from 3-point range.
Middle Tennessee has a quick turnaround, as it is back in action Wednesday in its first true road game of the season at Ole Miss. The Raiders then stay on the road for a game at South Alabama on Dec. 3.
"I think mainly we just can't get off to a slow start," Williams said. "I know Ole Miss is a good team, so they're liable to put us in a deep hole if we get off to a slow start. That's our main focus, to try and come out focused and ready from the tip and not have to wait 10 minutes into the game to try and get on our feet.
"We have a lot of confidence going into Ole Miss right now."
"I thought tonight we found ourselves a little bit better defensively," MT head coach Kermit Davis said. "I thought we really had some good bench play and defended at a high level in the first half."
Just as they did in the first two games of the tourney, the Blue Raiders (6-1) used tough defense to get by the Purple Aces (2-4).
Evansville started out hot, hitting six of its first 10 shots from the field in the first 10 minutes of the ballgame, but then Middle Tennessee's defense clamped down. After trailing 22-12 at the midway point of the half, the Raiders used a 17-7 run to even the score at the break. The Purple Aces hit just two of their 10 shots in that stretch and turned the ball over seven times.
"We really had a nice gameplan for all three games," redshirt senior JaCorey Williams said. "We just talked about team defense against their good guards … I think our bigs did a good job of stepping up and helping on them."
Middle Tennessee held Evansville to just a 42.5 shooting percentage for the game (17-40), and over the three games in the tournament held opponents to just 38 percent shooting from the field.
"These three-straight games helped us in our man-to-man defense," Davis said. "I thought we guarded in the halfcourt much better tonight, and I thought we challenged shots and were more connected as a team defensively."
In the second half, the Blue Raiders pulled away behind a strong offensive effort from their leading scorer, Williams.
He scored 13 of his team-high 25 points in the second half and finished 11-for-18 from the field. It was his fourth 20-plus point game of the season, and he also recorded his first career double-double with a career-high 10 rebounds.
"I was really active tonight, and I'm proud I got my first double-double," he said.
Williams scored 24 points per game in the three-game tournament and was named Challenge in Music City MVP. Junior Giddy Potts was named to the all-tournament team.
"I just try to do whatever I can to help the team win, whether its score, rebound, bring the intensity – whatever I need to do, I just try to help my team win," Williams said.
Senior Reggie Upshaw added 14 points Sunday on 5-for-12 shooting, and Potts had eight points including a 2-for-4 effort from 3-point range.
Middle Tennessee has a quick turnaround, as it is back in action Wednesday in its first true road game of the season at Ole Miss. The Raiders then stay on the road for a game at South Alabama on Dec. 3.
"I think mainly we just can't get off to a slow start," Williams said. "I know Ole Miss is a good team, so they're liable to put us in a deep hole if we get off to a slow start. That's our main focus, to try and come out focused and ready from the tip and not have to wait 10 minutes into the game to try and get on our feet.
"We have a lot of confidence going into Ole Miss right now."
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
