Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Thursday, January 17
Murfreesboro, TN
6:30 PM
Middle Tennessee
4-14, 1-4
89
vs
86
UTSA
10-8, 4-1
1
2
F
UTSA
31
55
86
Middle Tennessee
45
44
89
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Team Stats
UTSA
MT
FG%
.425
.491
3FG%
.378
.448
FT%
.571
.786
RB
41
39
TO
11
16
STL
9
1
Game Leaders
Pts
24
FGM
5
3FGM
5
FTM
9
Pts
21
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
5
Pts
20
FGM
7
3FGM
5
FTM
1
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballMcDevitt notches first C-USA win as MT beats UTSA
1/17/2019 10:05:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Raiders down first place Roadrunners in Murphy Center
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – A little bit of everything went right for Middle Tennessee on Thursday, and the Blue Raiders grabbed their first Conference USA victory under head coach Nick McDevitt.
The first-year coach's squad welcomed C-USA-leading UTSA to the Murphy Center and snapped a 13-game losing skid with an 89-86 win.
"It was a really good team win," McDevitt said. "I think anytime you're on the right side of the scoreboard and you get to triple zeroes it's a good feeling."
The Roadrunners (10-8, 4-1) went into the night the hottest team in the league, winners of seven in a row. The Blue Raiders (4-14, 1-4) weren't intimidated, though.
A quick 19-9 advantage for the home team just over two minutes into the contest ballooned to as many as 19 in the first half before settling at 45-31 at the break.
It was some hot shooting that grew the lead, as MT finished the first half 15-of-29 from the floor (51.7 percent) and 10-of-20 from 3-point range. The blue and white were also helped by inspired play from senior James Hawthorne.
The Prentiss, Mississippi native came out firing off the bench, hitting four of his first six shots including 3-for-4 from distance, and he added four rebounds, two assists and a block in the first 20 minutes.
Hawthorne didn't relax after the break, either, hitting two more 3-pointers in the second half and finishing with a career-high 20 points to go with a team-high seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks in 28 minutes of play.
His energy was maybe his biggest impact, drawing a key charge in the second half and grabbing an offensive rebound off a free-throw attempt that led to a 3-pointer.
"I try to just pride myself on playing hard, because that's my God-given ability," he said. "The treys were just a plus. I know if I play hard and give everything I got, the other stuff will come. It's as simple as that."
Middle Tennessee's lead grew to as many as 21 points before UTSA came storming back in the final few minutes.
The Roadrunners were able to cut the lead in chunks thanks to six 3-pointers in the last three minutes, but MT knocked down 11-of-15 free throws down the stretch to eventually clinch the win.
"The last minute or so, it really came down to ball security and making life difficult [for UTSA]," McDevitt said. "I just thought our guys were alert … and they were locked in all day long."
Sophomore Donovan Sims led the way offensively with 24 points on 5-of-11 shooting and a perfect 9-for-9 from the charity stripe, the second 20-point night of his career and second in three games. He also had six assists and five rebounds.
Junior Antonio Green added 21 points, hitting 7-of-15 shots and all five of his attempts from the free-throw line to go with six rebounds. It was the first time the Blue Raiders have had three players with 20 or more points in a single game since Jan. 31, 2002.
The big night offensively from Green and Sims was maybe more impressive considering they were the two main defenders tracking C-USA second-leading scorer Jhivvan Jackson. The reigning C-USA Freshman of the Year ended with 28 points, but he struggled from the floor hitting just 11 of his 29 shots, 6-for-19 from distance.
"That guy's fast," Sims said of Jackson. "He hit some tough shots. I just felt like I was playing my game and playing with confidence, and that's what the whole team has to do."
Middle Tennessee will try to keep its offense hot after setting season highs in field-goal (49) and 3-point (44) percentage.
It will host UTEP at the Murphy Center on Saturday at 5:00 p.m.
Josh Vardaman is the staff writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Vardaman and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.
The first-year coach's squad welcomed C-USA-leading UTSA to the Murphy Center and snapped a 13-game losing skid with an 89-86 win.
"It was a really good team win," McDevitt said. "I think anytime you're on the right side of the scoreboard and you get to triple zeroes it's a good feeling."
The Roadrunners (10-8, 4-1) went into the night the hottest team in the league, winners of seven in a row. The Blue Raiders (4-14, 1-4) weren't intimidated, though.
A quick 19-9 advantage for the home team just over two minutes into the contest ballooned to as many as 19 in the first half before settling at 45-31 at the break.
It was some hot shooting that grew the lead, as MT finished the first half 15-of-29 from the floor (51.7 percent) and 10-of-20 from 3-point range. The blue and white were also helped by inspired play from senior James Hawthorne.
The Prentiss, Mississippi native came out firing off the bench, hitting four of his first six shots including 3-for-4 from distance, and he added four rebounds, two assists and a block in the first 20 minutes.
Hawthorne didn't relax after the break, either, hitting two more 3-pointers in the second half and finishing with a career-high 20 points to go with a team-high seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks in 28 minutes of play.
His energy was maybe his biggest impact, drawing a key charge in the second half and grabbing an offensive rebound off a free-throw attempt that led to a 3-pointer.
"I try to just pride myself on playing hard, because that's my God-given ability," he said. "The treys were just a plus. I know if I play hard and give everything I got, the other stuff will come. It's as simple as that."
Middle Tennessee's lead grew to as many as 21 points before UTSA came storming back in the final few minutes.
The Roadrunners were able to cut the lead in chunks thanks to six 3-pointers in the last three minutes, but MT knocked down 11-of-15 free throws down the stretch to eventually clinch the win.
"The last minute or so, it really came down to ball security and making life difficult [for UTSA]," McDevitt said. "I just thought our guys were alert … and they were locked in all day long."
Sophomore Donovan Sims led the way offensively with 24 points on 5-of-11 shooting and a perfect 9-for-9 from the charity stripe, the second 20-point night of his career and second in three games. He also had six assists and five rebounds.
Junior Antonio Green added 21 points, hitting 7-of-15 shots and all five of his attempts from the free-throw line to go with six rebounds. It was the first time the Blue Raiders have had three players with 20 or more points in a single game since Jan. 31, 2002.
The big night offensively from Green and Sims was maybe more impressive considering they were the two main defenders tracking C-USA second-leading scorer Jhivvan Jackson. The reigning C-USA Freshman of the Year ended with 28 points, but he struggled from the floor hitting just 11 of his 29 shots, 6-for-19 from distance.
"That guy's fast," Sims said of Jackson. "He hit some tough shots. I just felt like I was playing my game and playing with confidence, and that's what the whole team has to do."
Middle Tennessee will try to keep its offense hot after setting season highs in field-goal (49) and 3-point (44) percentage.
It will host UTEP at the Murphy Center on Saturday at 5:00 p.m.
Josh Vardaman is the staff writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Vardaman and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.
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