Raiders to Host Archrivals WKU

Thursday, February 25

Murfreesboro, TN

6:00 p.m.

Middle Tennessee

WKU (ASN)

2/24/2016 2:36:00 PM | Men's Basketball

MT looks to defeat the Tops for fifth straight time

By: @MTAthletics

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee welcomes long-time foe WKU to the Murphy Center for the 132nd installment of the rivalry on Thursday as they look to knock off the Hilltoppers for the fifth consecutive time.

Thursday's contest is a Blue Out so all fans are encouraged to wear blue and the game will also serve as Greek Night.

GAME INFORMATION
(Full Game Notes)

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Twitter: MT_MBB
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Date: Thursday, Feb. 25
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Teams: Middle Tennessee (18-8, 10-4 C-USA) vs. WKU (13-14, 5-9 C-USA)
Location: Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Arena: Murphy Center (11,520)
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
TV: ASN
Talent: Jeff McCarragher (PxP) and Mark Adams (Analysis)

Live Audio | Live Stats

GAME NOTES
Lockdown Defense
The Blue Raiders are constantly working on closing out on opposing ball handlers, but are struggling to force tough shots lately. MT's opponents average 42.9 percent from the field this season, but their last five opponents have made 49.4 percent of their field goal attempts. The Raiders will need to get back to their gritty defensive ways to improve their chances of winning down the stretch.

Get to the Line
Middle Tennessee has shot just 532 free throws this year, an average of just 20.5 free throw attempts per game. MT's opponents have shot 624 free throws, an average of 24.0 free throws per game. Middle's opponents are also making an average of 3.5 more free throws per game. The Blue Raiders have attempted an average of 21.3 free throws per game in their wins compared to just 18.6 in their losses, including a total of just 23 attempts in their last two losses combined (10 at LA Tech, 13 vs. UAB).

Downtown Raiders
MT has been deadly from beyond the 3-point line this season and are currently ranked 36th among D-I teams in 3-point percentage (38.1%). Sophomore guard Giddy Potts currently leads all NCAA Division I players in 3-point percentage, converting 49.6 percent of his attempts from deep. The team has even been better lately, shooting 39.5 percent from deep and making 8.6 threes per game in conference play compared to 36.4 percent and 7.3 threes per game in non-conference play.

There's No Place Like Home
The Blue Raiders tend to kick it up a notch at home, going 10-2 through their first 12 home games in front of an average crowd of 5,349 Blue Raider fans. MT is averaging 77.2 ppg at home compared to 67.7 on the road. The Raiders also collect 4.4 more rebounds, 2.7 more blocks, 1.4 more steals and 1.3 more assists per game at home.

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 Upshaw (13.0), Giddy Potts (14.8), Darnell Harris (12.5) and Perrin Buford (11.0).

Upping His Game
Through 26 games, junior forward Reggie Upshaw leads the Blue Raiders in field goal percentage (51.0%), rebounds per game (8.7), defensive rpg (5.7), offensive rpg (3.0), assists per game (2.2) and steals per game (1.4) and ranks in the top seven in Conference USA in each of those categories except field goal percentage and assists per game. The Chattanooga, Tenn. native is also tied for second on the team in points per game (13.0). Through 13 conference games this season, Upshaw has increased his numbers in five of those seven categories over his non-conference statistics.

Buford's Best
Through his first 19 games as a Blue Raider, Perrin Buford was averaging just 5.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 13.3 minutes per game. In his last 42 games stretched over two seasons, Buford is averaging 11.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 26.4 minutes per contest.

Series History
Middle Tennessee and WKU will meet for the 132nd time in the history of the programs on Thursday. WKU leads the all-time series 92-39 while head coach Kermit Davis is 13-14 against the Hilltoppers. Over the course of the last 10 meetings the Blue Raiders have won nine times, including a current streak of four in a row against their archrivals. MT has also won five straight in the Murphy Center and are 8-4 against the Tops at home under Davis.

Last Time Out
On a night where a share of the Conference USA lead was at stake, Middle Tennessee was outclassed by league leaders UAB in a 77-67 loss in front of 7,822 Murphy Center fans.

Giddy Potts and Quavius Copeland led the way for Middle Tennessee with 13 points each while Reggie Upshaw and Darnell Harris added 11 points each.

Middle Tennessee (18-8, 10-4) shot 45.9 percent on the night while going 9-of-22 from three, but was outperformed by a UAB team that played tougher in the contest.

UAB (22-5, 12-2) shot 61.4 percent from the field, 58.3 percent from three and 72.7 percent at the charity stripe, but it was their hustle that really made a difference as they won 14-of-18 50/50 balls and outrebounded the Raiders 32-20.