Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Thursday, February 25
Murfreesboro, TN
6:00 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
(18-9, 10-5)
72
vs
78
WKU (ASN)
(14-14, 6-9)
1
2
F
WKU
36
42
78
Middle Tennessee
33
39
72
Team Stats
WKU
MT
FG%
.518
.466
3FG%
.533
.435
FT%
.706
.444
RB
40
29
TO
10
9
STL
2
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
19
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
3
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G/F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballMT Drops Rivalry Heartbreaker
2/25/2016 8:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – It was a heartbreaking loss Thursday night as the Blue Raiders were bested by WKU in the Murphy Center, 78-72.
"We've won a lot of games like this one in this rivalry, but you have to give WKU credit tonight," head coach Kermit Davis said. "I thought they had great toughness tonight and they've been a really good team in this league but have just lost a lot of close ones like this one tonight."
Giddy Potts led the Blue Raiders with 19 points and 12 rebounds, marking his second career double-double. Reggie Upshaw added 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting while Perrin Buford registered 11 points.
Middle Tennessee (18-9, 10-5) struggled on the boards for the second-straight game, getting outrebounded by WKU (14-14, 6-9) by a total of 40-29.
It was also the second consecutive outing in which the Raiders allowed their opponent to shoot over 50 percent as the Hilltoppers shot 51.8 percent from the field and 53.3 percent from three.
WKU opened the game on a 7-0 run and led for much of the first half. It wasn't until Xavier Habersham drilled a three-pointer at the 5:33 mark that Middle went on top of the Toppers at 29-28.
After the rival programs traded a basket each, Quavius Copeland hit a 15-foot pull-up jumper in transition to move the score to 33-30 and force a WKU timeout.
The Hilltoppers used the timeout to their advantage and kill the Blue Raiders' momentum, going on a 6-0 run to close out the opening half and go into the locker rooms with a 36-33 advantage.
WKU stayed hot out of the break, using a 7-1 run early in the second half to open up a 10-point lead at 55-45. Another triple by Habersham stopped the bleeding for MT, but WKU wouldn't lay down.
Potts hit a three from the right wing to cut the deficit to four points at the 12:37 mark. Another three from the opposite wing got the score to 62-58 with just under nine minutes to go.
At the 5:22 mark Buford got the Murphy Center rocking when he skied over the WKU defense for a follow slam. The senior hit a jumper on the next possession to put the Raiders on top for the first time in the second half at 65-64.
Another 7-0 run for the Tops shot Middle's momentum down almost immediately. Jaqawn Raymond hit a three from the top of the key to cut the WKU lead back to three with 2:20 to go.
As the game clock dwindled, MT was forced to foul to stop the clock. The Hilltoppers hit just two of their last four free throws but Middle failed to knock down enough shots down the stretch to close the gap.
Middle Tennessee is back in action on Saturday when Marshall enters the Murphy Center for a 5:00 p.m. contest.
"We've won a lot of games like this one in this rivalry, but you have to give WKU credit tonight," head coach Kermit Davis said. "I thought they had great toughness tonight and they've been a really good team in this league but have just lost a lot of close ones like this one tonight."
Giddy Potts led the Blue Raiders with 19 points and 12 rebounds, marking his second career double-double. Reggie Upshaw added 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting while Perrin Buford registered 11 points.
Middle Tennessee (18-9, 10-5) struggled on the boards for the second-straight game, getting outrebounded by WKU (14-14, 6-9) by a total of 40-29.
It was also the second consecutive outing in which the Raiders allowed their opponent to shoot over 50 percent as the Hilltoppers shot 51.8 percent from the field and 53.3 percent from three.
WKU opened the game on a 7-0 run and led for much of the first half. It wasn't until Xavier Habersham drilled a three-pointer at the 5:33 mark that Middle went on top of the Toppers at 29-28.
After the rival programs traded a basket each, Quavius Copeland hit a 15-foot pull-up jumper in transition to move the score to 33-30 and force a WKU timeout.
The Hilltoppers used the timeout to their advantage and kill the Blue Raiders' momentum, going on a 6-0 run to close out the opening half and go into the locker rooms with a 36-33 advantage.
WKU stayed hot out of the break, using a 7-1 run early in the second half to open up a 10-point lead at 55-45. Another triple by Habersham stopped the bleeding for MT, but WKU wouldn't lay down.
Potts hit a three from the right wing to cut the deficit to four points at the 12:37 mark. Another three from the opposite wing got the score to 62-58 with just under nine minutes to go.
At the 5:22 mark Buford got the Murphy Center rocking when he skied over the WKU defense for a follow slam. The senior hit a jumper on the next possession to put the Raiders on top for the first time in the second half at 65-64.
Another 7-0 run for the Tops shot Middle's momentum down almost immediately. Jaqawn Raymond hit a three from the top of the key to cut the WKU lead back to three with 2:20 to go.
As the game clock dwindled, MT was forced to foul to stop the clock. The Hilltoppers hit just two of their last four free throws but Middle failed to knock down enough shots down the stretch to close the gap.
Middle Tennessee is back in action on Saturday when Marshall enters the Murphy Center for a 5:00 p.m. contest.
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2025 Blue Raider Blitz Media Panel
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MTSU Men's Basketball Coach Nick McDevitt interview at 2025 Blue Raider Blitz
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MTSU Men's Basketball Post Game Press Conference vs Chattanooga NIT 3/18/25
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