Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Saturday, February 6
Murfreesboro, TN
6:00 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
-176, 92 CUSA
67
vs
66
FIU
-1113, 56 CUSA
1
2
F
FIU
30
36
66
Middle Tennessee
33
34
67
Team Stats
FIU
MT
FG%
.510
.417
3FG%
.364
.379
FT%
.769
.429
RB
38
29
TO
14
7
STL
2
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
16
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G/F
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballLate Surge Gives MT 67-66 Win Against FIU
2/6/2016 8:32:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – A clutch free throw from Giddy Potts proved to be the deciding point in a 67-66 thriller Saturday inside the Murphy Center.
Perrin Buford led the Blue Raiders with 16 points and five rebounds. Potts added 15 points and went 4-of-7 from three while adding five boards.
Middle Tennessee (17-6, 9-2) hit 11 three-pointers in the contest, the most they have hit since the conference opener at UAB.
FIU (11-13, 5-6) shot 51.0 percent on the night and outrebounded the Raiders 38-29, but the Panthers committed 14 turnovers to just seven by MT.
After not attempting any three-pointers in Thursday's contest, Potts opened the game with three made three-pointers in the first four minutes, scoring the first nine points for the Blue Raiders.
However, just six minutes into the first period Potts was forced to the bench with two fouls. His absence left Middle Tennessee searching for someone to step up on offense in the first half.
Without a great rhythm on offense, the Blue Raiders had to rely on defense at times to carry their lead for a majority of the first half.
An FIU layup tied the game up with 16 seconds remaining in the half, but Jacob Ivory was fouled behind the arc with under a second remaining.
Ivory sank all three attempts from the charity stripe to give the Raiders a 33-30 lead at half.
On the first possession of the second half Ivory tossed an alley-oop to Buford, who slammed it home to bring the Murphy Center crowd to its feet.
FIU then reeled off an 11-0 run to take a 43-37 lead at the 13:41 mark.
It wasn't until the 5:52 mark that Middle Tennessee got back within a possession after an 8-0 run that included three-pointers by Darnell Harris and JaQawn Raymond.
After a couple of Panther free throws, Potts hit his fourth three of the night to tie the game up at 56.
The Blue Raiders and Panthers traded baskets twice more before Middle captured a 63-62 lead on a Reggie Upshaw layup with 3:06 left in the game, the first MT lead for nearly 13 minutes.
MT extended their lead to four when Darnell Harris got a layup to go and one.
FIU tied it back up at 66 with just eight seconds left but committed and untimely foul that sent Potts to the line.
The sophomore from Athens, Ala. sank one of two which proved to be just enough as FIU missed their 15-footer at the buzzer.
Middle Tennessee returns to the court on Thursday in Ruston, La. The Blue Raiders and Louisiana Tech tip off at 8:00 p.m. in the Thomas Assembly Center.
Perrin Buford led the Blue Raiders with 16 points and five rebounds. Potts added 15 points and went 4-of-7 from three while adding five boards.
Middle Tennessee (17-6, 9-2) hit 11 three-pointers in the contest, the most they have hit since the conference opener at UAB.
FIU (11-13, 5-6) shot 51.0 percent on the night and outrebounded the Raiders 38-29, but the Panthers committed 14 turnovers to just seven by MT.
After not attempting any three-pointers in Thursday's contest, Potts opened the game with three made three-pointers in the first four minutes, scoring the first nine points for the Blue Raiders.
However, just six minutes into the first period Potts was forced to the bench with two fouls. His absence left Middle Tennessee searching for someone to step up on offense in the first half.
Without a great rhythm on offense, the Blue Raiders had to rely on defense at times to carry their lead for a majority of the first half.
An FIU layup tied the game up with 16 seconds remaining in the half, but Jacob Ivory was fouled behind the arc with under a second remaining.
Ivory sank all three attempts from the charity stripe to give the Raiders a 33-30 lead at half.
On the first possession of the second half Ivory tossed an alley-oop to Buford, who slammed it home to bring the Murphy Center crowd to its feet.
FIU then reeled off an 11-0 run to take a 43-37 lead at the 13:41 mark.
It wasn't until the 5:52 mark that Middle Tennessee got back within a possession after an 8-0 run that included three-pointers by Darnell Harris and JaQawn Raymond.
After a couple of Panther free throws, Potts hit his fourth three of the night to tie the game up at 56.
The Blue Raiders and Panthers traded baskets twice more before Middle captured a 63-62 lead on a Reggie Upshaw layup with 3:06 left in the game, the first MT lead for nearly 13 minutes.
MT extended their lead to four when Darnell Harris got a layup to go and one.
FIU tied it back up at 66 with just eight seconds left but committed and untimely foul that sent Potts to the line.
The sophomore from Athens, Ala. sank one of two which proved to be just enough as FIU missed their 15-footer at the buzzer.
Middle Tennessee returns to the court on Thursday in Ruston, La. The Blue Raiders and Louisiana Tech tip off at 8:00 p.m. in the Thomas Assembly 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
