Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Wednesday, November 13
Murfreesboro, TN
6:30 PM
Middle Tennessee
-20,00 CUSA
96
vs
82
Mars Hill
1-2,0-0SAC
1
2
F
Mars Hill
38
44
82
Middle Tennessee
47
49
96
Team Stats
MH
MT
FG%
.414
.500
3FG%
.440
.333
FT%
.722
.800
RB
45
39
TO
20
4
STL
2
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
31
FGM
12
3FGM
5
FTM
2
Pts
16
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
15
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
4
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
Photo by: Devin P. Grimes/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Devin P. Grimes/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Devin P. Grimes/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Devin P. Grimes/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Devin P. Grimes/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Devin P. Grimes/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Devin P. Grimes/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Devin P. Grimes/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Devin P. Grimes/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Devin P. Grimes/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Devin P. Grimes/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Devin P. Grimes/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Devin P. Grimes/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Blue Raiders notch win No. 500 at Murphy Center
11/13/2019 9:28:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Since opening in 1972, Middle Tennessee has had plenty of big moments and victories in the historic Murphy Center.
The Blue Raiders reached another milestone Wednesday night.
With a 96-82 win over visiting Mars Hill (1-1), MT (3-0) secured its 500th victory all-time at the famed arena.
"I'm happy with that win," Raiders head coach Nick McDevitt said. "I thought Mars Hill played very well … and they can really throw it in the basket.
"We knew they wouldn't be intimidated by the fact that we're a Division I team or that we have a big arena."
Middle Tennessee was in a battle with the Division II team early in the second half and needed a spirited effort fueled by their head coach to move to 3-0 for the first time since 2013.
The Lions came out of the halftime locker room on a mission, making eight of their first 12 shots from the field. They turned a 47-38 deficit into a 58-57 lead with 15:07 left, when McDevitt called a timeout and turned to the crowd to try and get some energy. He passionately waved his arms to try and get the fans on their feet before getting into his team on the sidelines.
The injection of energy worked.
Over the next two minutes, the Blue Raiders rattled off a 12-2 run to take back control, eventually leading by as many as 16. They finished the second half shooting 54.5% (18-33) while taking care of the rock, turning it over only four times in the game to tie the program record.
"We had no energy, I didn't feel like," McDevitt said. "You could feel that there just wasn't life in the building … due to what we were doing on the floor.
"I didn't think we were in a dogfight out there, and it turned into that. I thought we responded well."
It wasn't just the second half when Mars Hill irritatingly wouldn't go away.
Middle Tennessee needed a big first-half performance from its senior leader to take a 47-38 lead into halftime after the Lions made seven made 3-pointers and 7-of-8 free throws.
If it wasn't for MT senior Antonio Green, the Lions might've had a lead going into the half. He knocked down 10-of-14 shots, including 5-of-8 3-pointers, in the first 20 minutes for 25 points, and finished with a career-high-tying 31.
"I was just running the offense, getting good shots and knocking them down," he said. "You can't not play hard after seeing your coach doing all that."
Green was far from the only Blue Raider in double-figure scoring. Freshmen Eli Lawrence and Tyler Millin had 13 and 12, respectively, off the bench, Lawrence adding 10 rebounds for his first double-double. Sophomore Jayce Johnson added 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists, and junior C.J. Jones rounded out the double-figure scoring with 15.
Lawrence did most of his damage when his team needed it most. While providing the energy that his head coach said was the difference in the game, he poured in 11 of his 13 points and grabbed seven of his 10 rebounds in the second half.
"If you just play hard, everything is going to come to you and it's going to work itself out," he said. "That's all I work on, just playing hard when I'm in the game."
Despite all of the good things MT did in the win, including 50% shooting (36-72), 21 assists on 36 made baskets, shooting 16-for-20 from the free-throw line and the low turnover total, McDevitt still saw plenty he wanted to improve.
Seeing his young team respond early in the season when a team makes a spirited run isn't something he's taking lightly, though. He's hoping to see the same fight when they take the floor next at Coastal Carolina on Nov. 18.
"It's invaluable to see how your team responds in a tight game," McDevitt said. "I thought we kept fighting and digging and found a way to win another good one."
For all the latest information on Middle Tennessee Men's Basketball, follow the #BlueRaiders on Facebook (@MTMensBasketball), Twitter (@MT_MBB) and Instagram (MT_MBB).
The Blue Raiders reached another milestone Wednesday night.
With a 96-82 win over visiting Mars Hill (1-1), MT (3-0) secured its 500th victory all-time at the famed arena.
"I'm happy with that win," Raiders head coach Nick McDevitt said. "I thought Mars Hill played very well … and they can really throw it in the basket.
"We knew they wouldn't be intimidated by the fact that we're a Division I team or that we have a big arena."
Middle Tennessee was in a battle with the Division II team early in the second half and needed a spirited effort fueled by their head coach to move to 3-0 for the first time since 2013.
The Lions came out of the halftime locker room on a mission, making eight of their first 12 shots from the field. They turned a 47-38 deficit into a 58-57 lead with 15:07 left, when McDevitt called a timeout and turned to the crowd to try and get some energy. He passionately waved his arms to try and get the fans on their feet before getting into his team on the sidelines.
The injection of energy worked.
Over the next two minutes, the Blue Raiders rattled off a 12-2 run to take back control, eventually leading by as many as 16. They finished the second half shooting 54.5% (18-33) while taking care of the rock, turning it over only four times in the game to tie the program record.
"We had no energy, I didn't feel like," McDevitt said. "You could feel that there just wasn't life in the building … due to what we were doing on the floor.
"I didn't think we were in a dogfight out there, and it turned into that. I thought we responded well."
It wasn't just the second half when Mars Hill irritatingly wouldn't go away.
Middle Tennessee needed a big first-half performance from its senior leader to take a 47-38 lead into halftime after the Lions made seven made 3-pointers and 7-of-8 free throws.
If it wasn't for MT senior Antonio Green, the Lions might've had a lead going into the half. He knocked down 10-of-14 shots, including 5-of-8 3-pointers, in the first 20 minutes for 25 points, and finished with a career-high-tying 31.
"I was just running the offense, getting good shots and knocking them down," he said. "You can't not play hard after seeing your coach doing all that."
Green was far from the only Blue Raider in double-figure scoring. Freshmen Eli Lawrence and Tyler Millin had 13 and 12, respectively, off the bench, Lawrence adding 10 rebounds for his first double-double. Sophomore Jayce Johnson added 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists, and junior C.J. Jones rounded out the double-figure scoring with 15.
Lawrence did most of his damage when his team needed it most. While providing the energy that his head coach said was the difference in the game, he poured in 11 of his 13 points and grabbed seven of his 10 rebounds in the second half.
"If you just play hard, everything is going to come to you and it's going to work itself out," he said. "That's all I work on, just playing hard when I'm in the game."
Despite all of the good things MT did in the win, including 50% shooting (36-72), 21 assists on 36 made baskets, shooting 16-for-20 from the free-throw line and the low turnover total, McDevitt still saw plenty he wanted to improve.
Seeing his young team respond early in the season when a team makes a spirited run isn't something he's taking lightly, though. He's hoping to see the same fight when they take the floor next at Coastal Carolina on Nov. 18.
"It's invaluable to see how your team responds in a tight game," McDevitt said. "I thought we kept fighting and digging and found a way to win another good one."
For all the latest information on Middle Tennessee Men's Basketball, follow the #BlueRaiders on Facebook (@MTMensBasketball), Twitter (@MT_MBB) and Instagram (MT_MBB).
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
