Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
IUPUI
Pippen Registers Double-Double in Blue Raider Win
12/7/2002 11:31:00 PM | Men's Basketball
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - William Pippen registered a double-double with a game-high 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead MTSU past IUPUI, 64-60, for third place in the Boilermaker Invitational Saturday.
Middle Tennessee (2-5) jumped out to double-figure leads at the outset of both halves only to see the Jaguars (3-6) whittle into both advantages.
The Blue Raiders, who also got 14 points from Tommy Gunn and 12 from John Humphrey, trailed 53-49 with under nine minutes remaining but clamped down on defense and hit clutch baskets down the stretch to earn the win.
"We knew it would be a grind when you start thinking about the circumstances of playing three games in four days," MTSU coach Kermit Davis said. "For the first time, things go bad for a stretch but we hung in and went through some adversity and made some plays to get the win. I was real proud of the players."
Humphrey's 3-pointer - his fourth of the game with 2:34 remaining tied the game at 60-60 and the Blue Raiders took the lead for good on Pippen's layup with 1:50 remaining.
MT defense didn't allow a field goal in the final four minutes and limited the Jaguars to two points during that stretch.
The Blue Raiders shot 53 percent from the field, including 42 percent from 3-point range. They will take the upcoming week off during final exams and return to action against Murray State at Murphy Center, Dec.16.
