Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Thursday, November 2
Murfreesboro, TN
7:30 PM
Middle Tennessee
0-0
85
vs
55
Arkansas Fort Smith
0-0
1
2
F
UAFS
26
29
55
Middle Tennessee
41
44
85
Team Stats
UAFS
MT
FG%
.413
.491
3FG%
.444
.458
FT%
.565
.667
RB
31
32
TO
23
16
STL
3
14
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
25
FGM
7
3FGM
7
FTM
4
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballRaiders triumphant in exhibition
11/2/2017 10:28:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Potts pours in 25, hits seven from downtown
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee got a chance to prep for regular-season competition Thursday, as Arkansas-Fort Smith traveled to the Murphy Center for a preseason exhibition.
The Blue Raiders, led by All-Conference USA Preseason Team member Giddy Potts, took down the Lions 85-55 in their only exhibition before welcoming Trevecca for the regular-season opener on Nov. 10.
"We got just what we needed," MT head coach Kermit Davis said. "It was a physical team – they played downhill and didn't back down. That's an NCAA Division II tournament team … and they tested us.
"The biggest thing was everybody got minutes and chances to play in a physical game. That's great for our returners and great for our new guys."
Things didn't get off to a roaring start for Middle Tennessee offensively, and Potts was forced to get his team going.
The junior had the Blue Raiders' first six points on a pair of 3-pointers and knocked down three more beyond the arc before halftime. He had 17 of his team's 41 first-half points, making 5-of-6 from three-point range.
Potts finished with a game-high 25 points on 7-of-12 shooting (7-of-9 from three).
"That's just what Giddy does," Davis said. "I don't know if he'll get 25 every night, but he's going to have to be able to score in a lot of different ways."
With Potts guiding the Raiders offensively, MT's defense clamped down on the Lions.
The Blue Raiders forced 11 UAFS turnovers in the first half with six steals and four blocked shots, and things didn't get easier for the Lions after halftime.
Middle Tennessee forced Arkansas-Fort Smith into 23 total turnovers and came up with 14 steals, led by Potts and sophomore Tyrik Dixon with three apiece. The Lions also managed to shoot just 41.3 percent from the floor (19-46) compared to 49 percent for MT.
"I thought we came out with a lot of jitters in the first half, but in the second half things started to fall into place and we sat down more on the defensive end and communicated better," senior Nick King said.
Behind Potts, two newcomers added double-figure scoring outputs for the Blue Raiders.
King, an Alabama transfer, ended with 16 and a team-high six rebounds, while junior Southwest Mississippi Community College transfer James Hawthorne added 10 points.
Junior Antwain Johnson added nine points and a team-high five assists.
Middle Tennessee's regular season begins Nov. 10 at 11 a.m. against Trevecca.
The Blue Raiders, led by All-Conference USA Preseason Team member Giddy Potts, took down the Lions 85-55 in their only exhibition before welcoming Trevecca for the regular-season opener on Nov. 10.
"We got just what we needed," MT head coach Kermit Davis said. "It was a physical team – they played downhill and didn't back down. That's an NCAA Division II tournament team … and they tested us.
"The biggest thing was everybody got minutes and chances to play in a physical game. That's great for our returners and great for our new guys."
Things didn't get off to a roaring start for Middle Tennessee offensively, and Potts was forced to get his team going.
The junior had the Blue Raiders' first six points on a pair of 3-pointers and knocked down three more beyond the arc before halftime. He had 17 of his team's 41 first-half points, making 5-of-6 from three-point range.
Potts finished with a game-high 25 points on 7-of-12 shooting (7-of-9 from three).
"That's just what Giddy does," Davis said. "I don't know if he'll get 25 every night, but he's going to have to be able to score in a lot of different ways."
With Potts guiding the Raiders offensively, MT's defense clamped down on the Lions.
The Blue Raiders forced 11 UAFS turnovers in the first half with six steals and four blocked shots, and things didn't get easier for the Lions after halftime.
Middle Tennessee forced Arkansas-Fort Smith into 23 total turnovers and came up with 14 steals, led by Potts and sophomore Tyrik Dixon with three apiece. The Lions also managed to shoot just 41.3 percent from the floor (19-46) compared to 49 percent for MT.
"I thought we came out with a lot of jitters in the first half, but in the second half things started to fall into place and we sat down more on the defensive end and communicated better," senior Nick King said.
Behind Potts, two newcomers added double-figure scoring outputs for the Blue Raiders.
King, an Alabama transfer, ended with 16 and a team-high six rebounds, while junior Southwest Mississippi Community College transfer James Hawthorne added 10 points.
Junior Antwain Johnson added nine points and a team-high five assists.
Middle Tennessee's regular season begins Nov. 10 at 11 a.m. against Trevecca.
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
