SBC Division leaders collide when Blue Raiders face UALR

Saturday, January 17

Little Rock, Ark.

7:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

UALR

Photo by: B. Lambert

1/17/2009 11:09:00 AM | Men's Basketball

By: Athletic Communications

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Division leaders will clash when Middle Tennessee faces UALR at the Jack Stephens Center here tonight. Middle Tennessee is coming off its first conference loss of the season - a hard-fought 63-61 setback at WKU Thursday night, but the Blue Raiders (11-6, 5-1) remain tied for first place in the SBC East. The Blue Raiders are ranked 15th in the latest Mid-Major Top 25 poll. UALR (12-5, 5-1) also is enjoying a respectable season. The Trojans lead the SBC's West Division by one game over rival Arkansas State. They are 7-2 at the Stephens Center this season.

Game Notes: MT vs. UALR Game Notes

"It will be a tough game against a well-coached team that plays hard and gets after you defensively," Middle Tennessee coach Kermit Davis said. "UALR was picked, along with North Texas, to win the West so we know what's ahead of us. It's another tough game at a difficult place to play." Few teams have enjoyed success at UALR's new Stephens Center but the Blue Raiders are 2-0 in their only two visits there. Then again, winning conference games on the road has been a trademark of Middle Tennessee teams under Davis. Middle Tennessee has 28 such wins in Davis' seventh season and that total represents the second highest total in the Sun Belt since 2002-03. Only South Alabama (30) has more. Like most teams that remain in the championship race throughout the season, Middle Tennessee and UALR have had a knack for winning close games. The Blue Raiders have an overtime win at North Texas and have won two games (FIU, FAU) on their final possession in league play. UALR has three overtime wins in league games and they also captured a six-point win against rival Arkansas State. The Trojans, winners of three straight, are coming off a 79-71 overtime win at UL-Lafayette and three of their last five games have reached overtime. Preseason Player of the Year Desmond Yates is second in the league scoring race at 18 points per game. He also averages 5.2 rebounds. Yates enters the game 15th on the all-time scoring list at Middle Tennessee with 1,166 points. Demetrius Green is second in scoring with 12.4 points and Kevin Kanaskie is averaging 11.2 points and reached 450 career assists vs. WKU. He needs two assists to tie Duane Washington (448) for second on the all-time assists lists and he is 13 shy of Gerald Harris' all-time mark of 463 that has stood for almost 20 years. Defense could be the tone of the night though as two of the league's stingiest teams are battling. Middle Tennessee is third in the SBC in scoring defense at 63.2 points per game, while UALR is sixth yielding 66.5 points. UALR is third in field goal percentage defense (.418) and Middle Tennessee is fourth (.428).