MT Looks to Ring In New Year With a Win

Wednesday, December 30

Murfreesboro, TN

6:00 p.m.

Middle Tennessee

Trevecca

12/29/2015 2:25:00 PM | Men's Basketball

The Blue Raiders Host Trevecca on Dec. 30 at 6 p.m.

By: @MTAthletics

MURFREESBORO – The Middle Tennessee men's basketball team looks to halt a two-game slide on Wednesday, Dec. 30 when the team hosts Trevecca at 6 p.m.

GAME INFORMATION
(FULL GAME NOTES)

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Date: Wednesday, Dec. 30
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Teams: Middle Tennessee (7-4) vs Trevecca Nazarene University (4-8)
Location: Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Stadium: The Murphy Center (11,250)
TV: None
Radio: WMOT-FM (89.5), WGNS (1450 AM/100.5 FM/101.9 FM), Game 2 (102.5/94.9/95.1)
Play-by-Play: Chip Walters
Analysis: Kyle Turnham

Live Audio/Live Streaming | Live Stats

GAME NOTES:
Less Than Giddy
The Blue Raiders have had a tough go of it the last two games without Giddy Potts. The team is averaging 10.2 fewer points per game and the Blue Raider guards are only scoring 21.5 points per game, down from 36.5 with Potts in the lineup. Most importantly however, MT is 0-2 without Potts and 7-2 when he does take the court.

Going to the Glass
Head Coach Kermit Davis has stayed true to his roots and his players are embracing his rebounding-first mantra. The Blue Raiders currently average 29.4 defensive rebounds per game, a mark that ranks them 23rd among Div. I teams and 1st in C-USA. Guard Giddy Potts has been leading the way in the category and his 5.67 per game are pacing the team. Oddly enough, MT ranks 321st in offensive rebounds per game, averaging only 8.4 per game.

The Final Countdown
Wednesday's game marks the final non-conference matchup for MT this season. MT is 9-4 in the Kermit Davis Era in games leading up to the start of league play. The team has been even better of late and is 6-1 in those situations the past seven years. The Trevecca game also marks the final non-conference home game, in which MT is 11-2 in the last 13 seasons.

Hail Harris
Darnell Harris has been on a tear as of late averaging a team-high 15.8 points and scoring over 10 points in each of his last six games. The big-man set a new career-high with three blocks against VCU and then eclipsed that with four stuffs versus South Alabama and Belmont. Harris has also hit a three in seven of his last eight games.

Fantastic Four
Just last season, Middle Tennessee did not have a single player average over 10 points per game. Reggie Upshaw was close at 9.9, but this season MT has four players in double-figures in Giddy Potts (14.8), Darnell Harris (13.0), Upshaw (12.2) and Perrin Buford (10.6 ppg).

Series History
On Wednesday, the Blue Raiders will host Div. II school Trevecca Nazarene University for the second time in school history. Middle Tennessee won the only meeting on Nov. 14, 2008 by a score of 94-53. Under Coach Davis, MT is a perfect 16-0 against non-Div. I teams and already notched a win over Alaska Anchorage earlier this season.

Last Time Out
A solid defensive effort for the Blue Raiders kept them in striking distance, but an untimely scoring drought down the stretch allowed South Dakota State to seal the win, 65-61, on Sunday night at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls. Darnell Harris led the Blue Raiders for the fifth time this season with 14 points. Reggie Upshaw added 13 points and eight rebounds while Perrin Buford had 11 points and six boards. Middle Tennessee tallied eight steals and five blocks on the defensive end of the floor, but shot just 39.0 percent from the field and was held to four made three-pointers, its lowest output from behind the arc this season. The Raiders held South Dakota State to 38.6 percent shooting but were outrebounded by the Jackrabbits 49-32, including a 15-5 edge on the offensive glass.