Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Thursday, January 25
Murfreesboro, TN
6:30 PM
Middle Tennessee
15-5 (7-1)
75
vs
51
UTSA
10-11 (3-5)
1
2
F
UTSA
27
24
51
Middle Tennessee
35
40
75
.png&width=84&height=84&quality=100&type=webp)
Team Stats
UTSA
MT
FG%
.344
.482
3FG%
.250
.435
FT%
.400
.846
RB
26
45
TO
7
13
STL
8
2
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
15
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
4
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballDefense dominant again as MT handles UTSA
1/25/2018 9:11:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Blue Raiders hold UTSA to season-low 51 points
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Another top-rated Conference USA offense fell victim to the stifling, suffocating Middle Tennessee (RV) defense Thursday night.
The UTSA Roadrunners (10-11, 3-5) traveled to the Murphy Center with C-USA's second-highest scoring average but didn't sniff it, falling 75-51 to the Blue Raiders (15-5, 7-1).
Middle Tennessee's defense, which went into the game second in the conference allowing 66.4 points per game, held UTSA to 31 points below its season average. The Roadrunners shot just 34 percent (21-of-61) from the floor and 25 percent (7-of-28) from 3-point range.
"I thought our team throughout the whole game guarded at a high level," MT head coach Kermit Davis said. "I've always thought that the way we play, we're going to guard and rebound and that gives us a chance."
It took a few minutes, but as the halftime bell tolled, the Blue Raiders were showing their dominance.
After a poor start from the field (2-of-11), MT rebounded by hitting 12 of its next 15 shots, leading to a 15-2 run that turned a 16-14 deficit into as much as an 11-point lead in the first half. The blue and white went into the locker room up 35-27.
The run was keyed by senior Nick King, who again proved to be too much offensively for the opposing defense. He had a personal 8-0 scoring run in the middle of Middle Tennessee's 15-2 stretch and stayed hot from there, finishing with a game-high 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting to add to seven rebounds.
King, owner of the 15th-best scoring average in the nation and second-best in C-USA at 21.7 points per outing, has led the Blue Raiders in scoring in 16 of their 20 games with 13 20-point performances.
"We're just trusting the offense," King said. "We have a lot of ball movement. Once we get to the second, third and even fourth side, sometimes the defense has to make some long closeouts and we can attack."
Out of the halftime break, Middle Tennessee continued its strong play and pulled away.
Led by junior Antwain Johnson on the wing and senior Brandon Walters down low, the Blue Raiders got most of what they wanted offensively while limiting UTSA to one shot per possession at most by dominating the rebounding war 45-26.
Johnson scored 12 of his 15 points in the second half, while Walters gobbled up seven of his career-high 14 rebounds after the intermission. The big man finished with six points.
"We really just fed off our defense [in the second half]," Johnson said. "We tried to get out on the break and executed whatever coach called."
Middle Tennessee led by as many as 30 in the second half as it closed things out for its fifth win in the six-game series. The Raiders have beaten the Roadrunners all three times they've faced in Murfreesboro.
The win was especially important, Davis said, because it was a great way to bounce back after a tough 66-62 victory at rival WKU five days prior. It will also help keep MT's RPI, which was 23rd in the latest list released by the NCAA, towards the top of the nation.
"It's like we said on Monday, every league game has a life of its own," Davis said. "In league play, anything can happen.
"These games are critical, they really are. Especially when you're also fighting for at-large bids … and what's so fun is the more you win, the bigger these games get."
The Blue Raiders will be back in action Saturday when UTEP makes a trip to the Murphy Center. Tip is scheduled for 6 p.m. and it can be watched on Stadium.
The UTSA Roadrunners (10-11, 3-5) traveled to the Murphy Center with C-USA's second-highest scoring average but didn't sniff it, falling 75-51 to the Blue Raiders (15-5, 7-1).
Middle Tennessee's defense, which went into the game second in the conference allowing 66.4 points per game, held UTSA to 31 points below its season average. The Roadrunners shot just 34 percent (21-of-61) from the floor and 25 percent (7-of-28) from 3-point range.
"I thought our team throughout the whole game guarded at a high level," MT head coach Kermit Davis said. "I've always thought that the way we play, we're going to guard and rebound and that gives us a chance."
It took a few minutes, but as the halftime bell tolled, the Blue Raiders were showing their dominance.
After a poor start from the field (2-of-11), MT rebounded by hitting 12 of its next 15 shots, leading to a 15-2 run that turned a 16-14 deficit into as much as an 11-point lead in the first half. The blue and white went into the locker room up 35-27.
The run was keyed by senior Nick King, who again proved to be too much offensively for the opposing defense. He had a personal 8-0 scoring run in the middle of Middle Tennessee's 15-2 stretch and stayed hot from there, finishing with a game-high 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting to add to seven rebounds.
King, owner of the 15th-best scoring average in the nation and second-best in C-USA at 21.7 points per outing, has led the Blue Raiders in scoring in 16 of their 20 games with 13 20-point performances.
"We're just trusting the offense," King said. "We have a lot of ball movement. Once we get to the second, third and even fourth side, sometimes the defense has to make some long closeouts and we can attack."
Out of the halftime break, Middle Tennessee continued its strong play and pulled away.
Led by junior Antwain Johnson on the wing and senior Brandon Walters down low, the Blue Raiders got most of what they wanted offensively while limiting UTSA to one shot per possession at most by dominating the rebounding war 45-26.
Johnson scored 12 of his 15 points in the second half, while Walters gobbled up seven of his career-high 14 rebounds after the intermission. The big man finished with six points.
"We really just fed off our defense [in the second half]," Johnson said. "We tried to get out on the break and executed whatever coach called."
Middle Tennessee led by as many as 30 in the second half as it closed things out for its fifth win in the six-game series. The Raiders have beaten the Roadrunners all three times they've faced in Murfreesboro.
The win was especially important, Davis said, because it was a great way to bounce back after a tough 66-62 victory at rival WKU five days prior. It will also help keep MT's RPI, which was 23rd in the latest list released by the NCAA, towards the top of the nation.
"It's like we said on Monday, every league game has a life of its own," Davis said. "In league play, anything can happen.
"These games are critical, they really are. Especially when you're also fighting for at-large bids … and what's so fun is the more you win, the bigger these games get."
The Blue Raiders will be back in action Saturday when UTEP makes a trip to the Murphy Center. Tip is scheduled for 6 p.m. and it can be watched on Stadium.
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
