Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Thursday, January 3
Murfreesboro, TN
6:30 PM
Middle Tennessee
-311, 01 CUSA
76
vs
83
FIU
-104, 10 CUSA
1
2
F
FIU
31
52
83
Middle Tennessee
33
43
76
Team Stats
FIU
MT
FG%
.456
.422
3FG%
.375
.300
FT%
.818
.696
RB
31
51
TO
10
21
STL
7
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
23
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
8
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
12
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballBlue Raiders fall in McDevitt's C-USA debut
1/3/2019 9:22:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Nick McDevitt's first Conference USA contest as head coach at Middle Tennessee didn't go quite the way he wanted on Thursday.
The Blue Raiders (3-11, 0-1) welcomed FIU (10-4, 1-0) to the Murphy Center and succumbed to a lengthy second-half run, losing 83-76.
"It was a tough one for our group tonight," McDevitt said. "I thought we played smart and really well for about three quarters of the game … then I thought we got loose with the ball at times and just weren't as intense and dogmatic defensively."
FIU utilized five MT turnovers and a tough shooting start from the home team to build an 18-10 lead seven minutes into the contest. Then, just when they needed it, the Blue Raiders started to heat up against C-USA's worst statistical defense.
The Panthers went into the game giving up a league-worst 82.2 points per game and had allowed opponents to shoot 45 percent overall, but through the first seven minutes had held Middle Tennessee to just 4 of 13 from the floor. The Blue Raiders woke up from there, closing out the first half on a 23-13 run to take a 33-31 lead into the halftime break.
"Early, we were living in the paint at the rim, and that's what helped us build a lead," McDevitt said. "Then, there were a couple of offensive fouls that perhaps caused our guys to be a little cautious, and we weren't living in the paint anymore."
Middle Tennessee's hot offense stuck around to start the second half as FIU, C-USA's top-scoring team at 93.3 points per game, went cold on the other end.
Behind dribble drives into the paint from guards Antonio Green and Jayce Johnson, the Blue Raiders expanded their lead to as many as 14 points with 12:51 left and looked to be in the driver's seat. Things were far from over, though.
The two teams flipped hot streaks offensively, the Panthers sinking 14 of their next 19 shots and roaring back with a 34-9 run to take a 78-67 lead with 2:22 left.
Middle Tennessee would cut it to as little as six, but couldn't get any closer.
"It was really frustrating," Green said. "We played well and played hard … but you could tell the difference when it wasn't there and the game changed.
"We know what we can do to win, we just have to figure out how to do it for 40 minutes."
Green, a junior who's led the team in scoring all season, finished with a Blue Raider-high 23 points, seven rebounds and two steals. Sophomore Donovan Sims had 17 points and nine rebounds, and Johnson, a freshman, scored all of his 14 points in the second half to go with six rebounds, five assists and two steals.
Senior Karl Gamble was also in double-figure scoring with 12 points to go with a team-high 11 rebounds for his second double-double of the season.
McDevitt will try to get his first C-USA victory on Saturday, when the Blue Raiders will welcome Florida Atlantic to the Murphy Center.
"We have to have a short memory," Green said. "Tonight was bad, but we have to let it go and get ready for practice tomorrow and the game Saturday."
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 Blue Raiders (3-11, 0-1) welcomed FIU (10-4, 1-0) to the Murphy Center and succumbed to a lengthy second-half run, losing 83-76.
"It was a tough one for our group tonight," McDevitt said. "I thought we played smart and really well for about three quarters of the game … then I thought we got loose with the ball at times and just weren't as intense and dogmatic defensively."
FIU utilized five MT turnovers and a tough shooting start from the home team to build an 18-10 lead seven minutes into the contest. Then, just when they needed it, the Blue Raiders started to heat up against C-USA's worst statistical defense.
The Panthers went into the game giving up a league-worst 82.2 points per game and had allowed opponents to shoot 45 percent overall, but through the first seven minutes had held Middle Tennessee to just 4 of 13 from the floor. The Blue Raiders woke up from there, closing out the first half on a 23-13 run to take a 33-31 lead into the halftime break.
"Early, we were living in the paint at the rim, and that's what helped us build a lead," McDevitt said. "Then, there were a couple of offensive fouls that perhaps caused our guys to be a little cautious, and we weren't living in the paint anymore."
Middle Tennessee's hot offense stuck around to start the second half as FIU, C-USA's top-scoring team at 93.3 points per game, went cold on the other end.
Behind dribble drives into the paint from guards Antonio Green and Jayce Johnson, the Blue Raiders expanded their lead to as many as 14 points with 12:51 left and looked to be in the driver's seat. Things were far from over, though.
The two teams flipped hot streaks offensively, the Panthers sinking 14 of their next 19 shots and roaring back with a 34-9 run to take a 78-67 lead with 2:22 left.
Middle Tennessee would cut it to as little as six, but couldn't get any closer.
"It was really frustrating," Green said. "We played well and played hard … but you could tell the difference when it wasn't there and the game changed.
"We know what we can do to win, we just have to figure out how to do it for 40 minutes."
Green, a junior who's led the team in scoring all season, finished with a Blue Raider-high 23 points, seven rebounds and two steals. Sophomore Donovan Sims had 17 points and nine rebounds, and Johnson, a freshman, scored all of his 14 points in the second half to go with six rebounds, five assists and two steals.
Senior Karl Gamble was also in double-figure scoring with 12 points to go with a team-high 11 rebounds for his second double-double of the season.
McDevitt will try to get his first C-USA victory on Saturday, when the Blue Raiders will welcome Florida Atlantic to the Murphy Center.
"We have to have a short memory," Green said. "Tonight was bad, but we have to let it go and get ready for practice tomorrow and the game Saturday."
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.
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
