Blue Raiders fall to FIU 65-58

Thursday, January 14

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

7:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

FIU

Photo by: Bradley Lambert

1/14/2010 10:09:00 PM | Men's Basketball

By: MT Athletic Communications

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Senior Montarrio Haddock posted his second double-double and fourth 20-point game of the season but it was not enough in a 65-58 loss to Florida International on Thursday night. The Greenville, N.C., native led all scorers with 23 points after going 7 for 15 from the field and made all eight of his free throw opportunities. Haddock also led the Blue Raiders with 10 rebounds. Senior Desmond Yates was the only other scorer in double figures with 16 points. The Somerville, Tenn., native also grabbed five rebounds to aid the Raiders. As a team, Middle Tennessee shot 36.4 percent from the field while FIU shot 56.5 percent. The Golden Panthers made 4 of 13 three-pointers and 9 of 15 free throws while Middle Tennessee shot just 17.4 percent from behind the arc and made 14 of its 18 free throws. "I give FIU all the credit in the world. Their team competed harder than we did, got better guard play than we did and we got beat in every phase of basketball tonight," head coach Kermit Davis said. The Blue Raiders had 30 rebounds in the game which was just one less than FIU but the Golden Panthers recorded 11 steals and one block. The two teams traded points to begin the game with FIU taking a 9-6 lead at the first media timeout. Then the Golden Panthers took a 21-14 lead with nine minutes to play after a layup by Gary. After the 8:53 mark on the clock neither team scored for three and a half minutes before a jumper by Yates cut the FIU lead. The Blue Raiders went on an 8-0 run to take a 25-23 lead but then FIU scored five unanswered for a three-point advantage at the half, 28-23. Yates and Haddock each had eight points at the half with Yates going 4 for 6 from the field while Haddock pulled down five rebounds. FIU came back from halftime strong going on a 16-5 run to begin play as it jumped out to a 14-point lead, 44-30 with 13:29 left to play. Yates and Haddock combined for six straight points for Middle Tennessee to cut the Golden Panther lead to seven points, 49-42. The Blue Raiders will prepare for Florida Atlantic on Friday, Jan. 15 before playing host to the Owls at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 16.