Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Saturday, December 7
Murray, KY
7:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
-46,00 CUSA
52
at
85
Murray State
5-4,0-0OVC
1
2
F
Middle Tennessee
24
28
52
Murray St.
51
34
85
Team Stats
MT
MSU
FG%
.345
.571
3FG%
.136
.417
FT%
.500
.727
RB
27
41
TO
15
16
STL
9
4
Game Leaders
Pts
15
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
5
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
MT outplayed by longtime rival Murray State
12/7/2019 10:09:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MURRAY, Ky. – On a night that Murray State became the most-faced rival in Middle Tennessee men's basketball history, it was all Racers from the tip inside the CFSB Center as the Blue Raiders fell by a score 85-52.
Middle Tennessee, who drops to 4-6 on the season, shot just 34.5 percent (20 for 58) on the evening and went 3 for 22 (.136) from beyond the arc and 9 for 18 (.500) from the free throw line.
Murray State shot an astounding 57.1 percent from the field, connecting on 32 of their 56 shot attempts Saturday night.
Another slow start plagued the Raiders early as three and a half minutes rolled off the clock before junior guard C.J. Jones got a basket to go.
Struggles at the free throw line didn't help matters, with each of MT's first three attempts from the charity stripe rimming out as the team searched desperately for some offense.
Shooting just 4 for 17 from the field and without a make from beyond the arc, an offensive rebound and putback by Tyson Jackson started a stretch of four consecutive possessions with a made basket that included a triple by Eli Lawrence.
The Blue Raiders would have to pick it up on the defensive end to make it a game, though, and limped into halftime trailing 51-24 as the Racers shot 61 percent from the field before the break.
After MSU opened up a 35-point lead just four minutes into the second half, MT's offense began to find some effectiveness with 16 points over the next seven and a half minutes.
It was a moot point in the course of the game, however, as Murray State cruised to 33-point win in their return home.
"We just didn't put in enough effort tonight, they outplayed us. We were in foul trouble early in the post and we were fighting an uphill battle after that. That forced us to play zone at times you strategically wouldn't want to and that hurt us, too. We've just got to start getting the little things right over and over again."
Jones led Middle Tennessee in scoring on the night with 15 points despite an 0 for 7 mark from downtown. Lawrence joined him in double figures with 10 while Jackson and senior guard Antonio Green led the Blue Raiders on the glass with six rebounds apiece.
Middle Tennessee now has exactly one week to get right before traveling to Ole Miss to face the Rebels on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 2:00 p.m. on SEC Network.
Middle Tennessee, who drops to 4-6 on the season, shot just 34.5 percent (20 for 58) on the evening and went 3 for 22 (.136) from beyond the arc and 9 for 18 (.500) from the free throw line.
Murray State shot an astounding 57.1 percent from the field, connecting on 32 of their 56 shot attempts Saturday night.
Another slow start plagued the Raiders early as three and a half minutes rolled off the clock before junior guard C.J. Jones got a basket to go.
Struggles at the free throw line didn't help matters, with each of MT's first three attempts from the charity stripe rimming out as the team searched desperately for some offense.
Shooting just 4 for 17 from the field and without a make from beyond the arc, an offensive rebound and putback by Tyson Jackson started a stretch of four consecutive possessions with a made basket that included a triple by Eli Lawrence.
The Blue Raiders would have to pick it up on the defensive end to make it a game, though, and limped into halftime trailing 51-24 as the Racers shot 61 percent from the field before the break.
After MSU opened up a 35-point lead just four minutes into the second half, MT's offense began to find some effectiveness with 16 points over the next seven and a half minutes.
It was a moot point in the course of the game, however, as Murray State cruised to 33-point win in their return home.
"We just didn't put in enough effort tonight, they outplayed us. We were in foul trouble early in the post and we were fighting an uphill battle after that. That forced us to play zone at times you strategically wouldn't want to and that hurt us, too. We've just got to start getting the little things right over and over again."
Jones led Middle Tennessee in scoring on the night with 15 points despite an 0 for 7 mark from downtown. Lawrence joined him in double figures with 10 while Jackson and senior guard Antonio Green led the Blue Raiders on the glass with six rebounds apiece.
Middle Tennessee now has exactly one week to get right before traveling to Ole Miss to face the Rebels on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 2:00 p.m. on SEC Network.
2025 MTSU Basketball tickets on sale now - October 1st
Wednesday, October 01
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
