Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Tuesday, December 3
Murfreesboro, TN
6:30 PM
Middle Tennessee
-45,00 CUSA
86
vs
38
Columbia International
5-4,2-4
1
2
F
Columbia Int'l
27
11
38
Middle Tennessee
49
37
86
Team Stats
COL-IN
MT
FG%
.255
.492
3FG%
.222
.409
FT%
.857
.682
RB
23
52
TO
14
8
STL
3
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
22
FGM
8
3FGM
6
FTM
0
Pts
15
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
12
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballMT handles CIU to halt losing streak
12/3/2019 9:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — With a tough stretch of nonconference opponents upcoming, Middle Tennessee's streak-breaking blowout win Tuesday set the Blue Raiders back on the right path.
They went into the night losers of five in a row after starting the season with three straight wins. Columbia International (5-4), an NAIA program, didn't have enough firepower to hand MT (4-5) a sixth straight defeat, though.
The Blue Raiders raced to an early 11-0 lead and never looked back, winning 86-38.
"It was a nice win for our team," MT head coach Nick McDevitt said. "I thought we got off to a good start, particularly on the defensive end of the floor. We had a concentrated effort on that end for the last week to 10 days, and I thought we were locked in."
Sophomore Jayce Johnson and senior Antonio Green powered the Blue Raiders early on the scoreboard, while redshirt freshman Anthony Crump enjoyed a career night on the backboards.
Johnson scored all 15 of his points in the first half and Green had 14 while Crump corralled six rebounds, five on the offensive end. MT finished the first 20 minutes with more offensive boards (15) than the Rams had total rebounds (11), leading to 17 more shots.
"We were able to get off to an 11-0 lead, and I thought that was in large part due to getting defensive assignments right, and we were able to build from there," McDevitt said. "I thought Anthony Crump did a nice job on the glass, particularly early … I liked what he did tonight."
After leading 49-27 at the half, the Blue Raiders locked things down with their length defensively to finish things out.
They came out of the halftime break with a 14-0 run and would go on to outscore CIU 37-11 in the second half, limiting the road team to 14.3% shooting (4-28).
"Hopefully we can build on it," McDevitt said. "Our next four games before league play starts, that's a tough stretch. … We have to be locked in over the next month."
Green, on his 23rd birthday, led the team with 22 points. He hit 8-of-12 field goals, including 6 of 9 from 3-point range, one make from tying his career high.
Johnson's 15 points, one off a career high, came on a perfect night from the floor (7-7). He also had seven rebounds.
His voice on the floor has been a big bonus for the young Raiders this year, and he's put together an all-around start to the season. He averages over 10 points and five rebounds per game and is third on the team in steals and assists.
"[Being vocal] has been tough to force that out of myself, because I like to lead by example, but the team needs it, and I have to come to that calling," Johnson said. "I'm just glad to be there for [the younger guys]."
Eli Lawrence added 12 points and seven rebounds, while Crump set a career high with nine boards, five on the offensive end, and fellow freshman Tyson Jackson had 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
Halting the losing streak could go a long way toward giving Middle Tennessee momentum heading into a tough stretch.
Before starting Conference USA play on Jan. 2, the Blue Raiders will face two 2019 NCAA Tournament participants on the road at Murray State and Ole Miss then return home for games against perennial Atlantic 10 Conference contenders Rhode Island and St. Bonaventure.
"It was good to see ourselves do what [McDevitt] has been preaching to us to do for the past week or so," Green said. "We just have to keep that going against these teams we have coming up."
They went into the night losers of five in a row after starting the season with three straight wins. Columbia International (5-4), an NAIA program, didn't have enough firepower to hand MT (4-5) a sixth straight defeat, though.
The Blue Raiders raced to an early 11-0 lead and never looked back, winning 86-38.
"It was a nice win for our team," MT head coach Nick McDevitt said. "I thought we got off to a good start, particularly on the defensive end of the floor. We had a concentrated effort on that end for the last week to 10 days, and I thought we were locked in."
Sophomore Jayce Johnson and senior Antonio Green powered the Blue Raiders early on the scoreboard, while redshirt freshman Anthony Crump enjoyed a career night on the backboards.
Johnson scored all 15 of his points in the first half and Green had 14 while Crump corralled six rebounds, five on the offensive end. MT finished the first 20 minutes with more offensive boards (15) than the Rams had total rebounds (11), leading to 17 more shots.
"We were able to get off to an 11-0 lead, and I thought that was in large part due to getting defensive assignments right, and we were able to build from there," McDevitt said. "I thought Anthony Crump did a nice job on the glass, particularly early … I liked what he did tonight."
After leading 49-27 at the half, the Blue Raiders locked things down with their length defensively to finish things out.
They came out of the halftime break with a 14-0 run and would go on to outscore CIU 37-11 in the second half, limiting the road team to 14.3% shooting (4-28).
"Hopefully we can build on it," McDevitt said. "Our next four games before league play starts, that's a tough stretch. … We have to be locked in over the next month."
Green, on his 23rd birthday, led the team with 22 points. He hit 8-of-12 field goals, including 6 of 9 from 3-point range, one make from tying his career high.
Johnson's 15 points, one off a career high, came on a perfect night from the floor (7-7). He also had seven rebounds.
His voice on the floor has been a big bonus for the young Raiders this year, and he's put together an all-around start to the season. He averages over 10 points and five rebounds per game and is third on the team in steals and assists.
"[Being vocal] has been tough to force that out of myself, because I like to lead by example, but the team needs it, and I have to come to that calling," Johnson said. "I'm just glad to be there for [the younger guys]."
Eli Lawrence added 12 points and seven rebounds, while Crump set a career high with nine boards, five on the offensive end, and fellow freshman Tyson Jackson had 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
Halting the losing streak could go a long way toward giving Middle Tennessee momentum heading into a tough stretch.
Before starting Conference USA play on Jan. 2, the Blue Raiders will face two 2019 NCAA Tournament participants on the road at Murray State and Ole Miss then return home for games against perennial Atlantic 10 Conference contenders Rhode Island and St. Bonaventure.
"It was good to see ourselves do what [McDevitt] has been preaching to us to do for the past week or so," Green said. "We just have to keep that going against these teams we have coming up."
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
