MT Begins C-USA Play at UAB, Sunday

Sunday, January 3

Birmingham, AL

2:00 p.m.

Middle Tennessee

UAB (ASN)

1/2/2016 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Tip-off time is scheduled for 2 p.m.

By: @MTAthletics

MURFREESBORO – The Middle Tennessee men's basketball will open up C-USA play on the road on Sunday, Jan. 3 at UAB. Tip-off for the game is pegged for 2 p.m.

GAME INFORMATION
(FULL GAME NOTES)

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Date: Sunday, Jan. 3
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Teams: Middle Tennessee (8-4) at UAB (10-3)
Location: Birmingham, Ala.
Stadium: Bartow Arena (8,508)
TV: American Sports Network
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
Up until Wednesday's win against D-II foe Trevecca, the Blue Raiders were having a tough go of it without Giddy Potts. The team was averaging 10.2 fewer points per game and the Blue Raider guards were scoring 21.5 points per game, down from 36.5 with Potts in the lineup. Most importantly however, MT was 0-2 without Potts and 7-2 before that.

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 29.3 defensive rebounds per game, a mark that ranks them 21st 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 313th in offensive rebounds per game, averaging only 8.9 per game.

Now It's Serious
Sunday's game at UAB marks the first C-USA game of the season for the Blue Raiders. MT has been solid in conference openers in the Davis era have been not quite as good but still solid at 8-5 in the past 13 seasons and have posted a 9-4 record (1-1 in since joining C-USA). Sunday is also the first road conference game for Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders have been not quite as good but still solid at 8-5 in the past 13 seasons.

One For the Books
Reggie Upshaw had a game for the ages against Trevecca on Dec. 30. He led all scorers with a career-high 32 points on 13-16 shooting while also filling his stat line with 12 rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks. It was the first time a Blue Raider scored over 30 since James Washington had 34 in 2010 and first time a Raider tallied 30 and 10 since Aylton Tesch did so in 1998.

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), Upshaw (13.8), Darnell Harris (12.3) and Perrin Buford (10.5 ppg).

Series History
On Sunday, MT faces off against UAB for the 12th time in school history. UAB holds an 8-3 edge and won all three meeting last season - including the C-USA Championship Game. The sides first met in 1986 which began a five-game winning streak for UAB. MT did win three straight from 2012-14. The teams open C-USA against each other for the 3rd straight year.

And Your Point is...?
With Jacob Ivory's start against Trevecca, MT has now started all three PGs this season. The Blue Raiders are 4-2 in Copeland's starts, 3-2 in Raymond's and 1-0 in Ivory's. MT is averaging nearly 10 points more per game when Ivory starts, but also over two assists less in the small sample size.

Tennessee's Finest
Of the 12 D-I teams from the state of Tennessee, Middle Tennessee has been one of the finest since 2011-12. MT has accrued 106 wins over the last four-plus years which is third-most in the state.

Last Time We Met
Middle Tennessee's run in the Conference USA Championship came to a close after UAB punched its ticket to the big dance with a 73-60 victory in the C-USA Championship Finale on March 14, 2015. Middle Tennessee had three players score in double figures with Jaqawn Raymond with a team-high 12 points, followed by Buford with 11 points and DJ Jones with 10 points. Turnovers were costly in the first half as tMT had eight and the Blazers picked up 10 points off of turnovers. Middle Tennessee went into the locker room at halftime down 11 with UAB holding a 37-26 lead. Robert Brown led the way for UAB with 22 points with the team finishing and 47.4 from 3-point range.