Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Thursday, November 3
Murfreesboro, TN
7:30 PM
Middle Tennessee
0-0
96
vs
65
North Alabama (Ex.)
0-0
1
2
F
North Alabama
33
32
65
Middle Tennessee
55
41
96
Team Stats
UNA
MT
FG%
.362
.492
3FG%
.308
.419
FT%
.613
.657
RB
23
56
TO
11
15
STL
6
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
5
FTM
0
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballRaiders cruise past UNA in exhibition play
11/3/2016 10:13:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Potts, Williams and Upshaw notch double-digit games
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee got its first and last warmup of the preseason Thursday before its regular season starts next week.
The North Alabama Lions came to the Murphy Center for an exhibition, and the Blue Raiders showed they are ready for the season to start. They dominated from the tip, getting off to a 10-0 start and not looking back, winning 96-65.
"I thought we had some good periods of time in the first half," MT head coach Kermit Davis said. "We just tried to play a lot of different people, which was a great thing. I think everyone scored but a couple of guys, so that was good to get those guys minutes.
"There were some positive things and we needed to play, but we have a lot of work to do before we open up [the regular season]."
Middle was hot from the field right away, hitting 10 of its first 15 shots. The Raiders finished with a 49.2 field goal percentage and hit 13-of-31 looks from three-point range (41.9 percent).
They also showed a knack for getting to the free-throw line, hitting 23-of-35 shots from the stripe.
"I just think we have a lot of people who can drive the ball, so I think we're going to go to the line," Davis said. "It doesn't surprise me – I think we're going to shoot a good percentage from three and get to the line a bunch."
Junior Giddy Potts led the way for Middle Tennessee with 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting. He also showed his 3-point shot hasn't left from when he led the nation in 3-point shooting percentage last season, hitting 5-of-8 looks from behind the arc. He also tied for a team high with eight rebounds.
Redshirt senior JaCorey Williams added 14 points in his Blue Raider debut and senior Reggie Upshaw had 13.
Freshman Tyrik Dixon made his first start in the blue and white and had nine points on 3-of-5 shooting, all from three-point range.
"It was a great atmosphere," he said. "To be a starter is just another thing for me – I just have to keep working hard."
The offense wasn't the only bright spot for MT. Its defense was also impressive, limiting North Alabama to 20-of-57 shooting (35 percent).
Playing effective defense and forcing turnovers will be critical to the Raiders' success moving forward, according to Upshaw. Especially if they can keep up their hot offensive play.
"Coach Davis emphasizes pressuring the ball and trying to get out in the lanes to get deflections," he said. "We're really not trying to play a full 30 seconds, we're really trying to play maybe 15 and get a turnover and go back the other way in transition."
As the Blue Raiders prepare for their regular-season opener against Milligan College on Friday, they know there are some things they need to clean up.
"I think we have to work on guarding dribble penetration," Williams said. "I think offensively we can score in many ways because we're so versatile, but our main thing is crashing the offensive boards, guarding dribble penetration and rebounding the ball and finishing possessions."
Friday's season kickoff is set to tip off at 11 a.m. at the Murphy Center.
The North Alabama Lions came to the Murphy Center for an exhibition, and the Blue Raiders showed they are ready for the season to start. They dominated from the tip, getting off to a 10-0 start and not looking back, winning 96-65.
"I thought we had some good periods of time in the first half," MT head coach Kermit Davis said. "We just tried to play a lot of different people, which was a great thing. I think everyone scored but a couple of guys, so that was good to get those guys minutes.
"There were some positive things and we needed to play, but we have a lot of work to do before we open up [the regular season]."
Middle was hot from the field right away, hitting 10 of its first 15 shots. The Raiders finished with a 49.2 field goal percentage and hit 13-of-31 looks from three-point range (41.9 percent).
They also showed a knack for getting to the free-throw line, hitting 23-of-35 shots from the stripe.
"I just think we have a lot of people who can drive the ball, so I think we're going to go to the line," Davis said. "It doesn't surprise me – I think we're going to shoot a good percentage from three and get to the line a bunch."
Junior Giddy Potts led the way for Middle Tennessee with 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting. He also showed his 3-point shot hasn't left from when he led the nation in 3-point shooting percentage last season, hitting 5-of-8 looks from behind the arc. He also tied for a team high with eight rebounds.
Redshirt senior JaCorey Williams added 14 points in his Blue Raider debut and senior Reggie Upshaw had 13.
Freshman Tyrik Dixon made his first start in the blue and white and had nine points on 3-of-5 shooting, all from three-point range.
"It was a great atmosphere," he said. "To be a starter is just another thing for me – I just have to keep working hard."
The offense wasn't the only bright spot for MT. Its defense was also impressive, limiting North Alabama to 20-of-57 shooting (35 percent).
Playing effective defense and forcing turnovers will be critical to the Raiders' success moving forward, according to Upshaw. Especially if they can keep up their hot offensive play.
"Coach Davis emphasizes pressuring the ball and trying to get out in the lanes to get deflections," he said. "We're really not trying to play a full 30 seconds, we're really trying to play maybe 15 and get a turnover and go back the other way in transition."
As the Blue Raiders prepare for their regular-season opener against Milligan College on Friday, they know there are some things they need to clean up.
"I think we have to work on guarding dribble penetration," Williams said. "I think offensively we can score in many ways because we're so versatile, but our main thing is crashing the offensive boards, guarding dribble penetration and rebounding the ball and finishing possessions."
Friday's season kickoff is set to tip off at 11 a.m. at the Murphy Center.
Facility tour – Stephen and Denise Smith Student-Athlete Performance Center
Wednesday, July 30
2025 Blue Raider Blitz Media Panel
Thursday, July 03
MTSU Men's Basketball Coach Nick McDevitt interview at 2025 Blue Raider Blitz
Monday, June 30
MTSU Men's Basketball Post Game Press Conference vs Chattanooga NIT 3/18/25
Tuesday, March 18
