Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Thursday, February 14
Bowling Green, KY
7:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
-818, 58 CUSA
63
at
71
WKU
-1610, 94 CUSA
1
2
F
Middle Tennessee
32
31
63
WKU
28
43
71
Team Stats
MT
WKU
FG%
.344
.474
3FG%
.296
.435
FT%
.846
.636
RB
46
30
TO
14
9
STL
3
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
18
FGM
7
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
6
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
Photo by: Steve Roberts/Cal Sport Media
MT battles to tough loss at WKU
2/14/2019 9:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Hawthorne, Johnson tally career-high rebounds
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – A resilient Middle Tennessee squad fought the full 40 minutes Thursday evening in Bowling Green but came up short in Head Coach Nick McDevitt's first battle with long-standing rival WKU, 71-63.
"I thought we played really well and really hard for most of the night tonight," McDevitt stated. "For about 36 or 37 minutes we were really good."
The Blue Raiders were excellent in many facets, highlighted by an outstanding rebounding night in which they carried a 46-30advantage on the glass with 18 offensive boards.
Senior James Hawthorne and freshman Jayce Johnson each recorded career-high numbers on the glass with 11 and 10 rebounds, respectively.
Sophomore Donovan Sims led the way offensively with 18 points, but was followed closely by Reggie Scurry's 16 and Antonio Green's 14.
The Hilltoppers controlled the opening tip and scored on their first trip down the court, but Sims had an immediate answer with a 3-pointer on the opposite end to give MT its first lead with just 49 ticks off the clock.
WKU looked to get its fans into the game early with a trio of trifectas around a Charles Bassey dunk turning the crowd volume up with an 18-12 lead on their home floor nine minutes into the contest.
However, the Blue Raiders wouldn't go quietly on the hilltop.
Down 22-16 after a Jared Savage jumper, the Blue Raiders exploded for a 12-0 run that included a Reggie Scurry dunk that reclaimed the lead for MT.
It took another dunk by the Toppers' 5-star freshman, Bassey, to stop the run, but the Raiders held their lead all the way into the locker room as they led 32-28 behind enemy lines at halftime.
Sims, Scurry and Green were nearly the entire offense before the break, combining for 28 of MT's 32 first half points as the Blue Raiders got a strong start on the glass with a 21-15 rebounding advantage in the opening 20 minutes.
WKU got their crowd right back into things after the break, reeling off a 13-0 run over a three-minute span that was finally ended by a straightaway triple from deep by Sims.
"We were a little sloppy to start the second half and it cost us," McDevitt added. "They beat us by about 12 in a three-minute stretch there and we ended up losing by eight. When you're playing a team that talented on the road every minute and every possession matters."
As the Toppers lead ballooned to 11 with 15 minutes on the game clock, it was time to see what the Blue Raiders were made of.
"With the young crew that we have this season, the atmosphere was just so big for them because it was something they haven't experienced yet," Scurry said. "In the huddles we just had to tell them to stay together and keep playing for each other so we could fight our way back in."
MT began to scratch and claw to stay in it, cutting the deficit all the way to two at 53-51 on Green's third triple of the evening before WKU answered with seven straight points.
Middle Tennessee still wasn't done yet, as Green led the Raiders back within three at 64-61 on yet another long distance make.
The triple, Green's fourth of the evening, gave him 85 on the season to match the single season school record set just a year ago by Giddy Potts.
Down the stretch, the Blue Raiders had opportunities to tie it up and pull off the upset but it was WKU's experience and home court advantage that won out in the end in Bowling Green.
The Blue Raiders must shift their focus quickly now, as the next game tips in less than 39 hours when MT and Marshall meet at 1:00 p.m. CT on Saturday in Huntington.
"We have to just take good care of our bodies tonight and tomorrow, get some good rest and be mentally prepared because it's going to be another tough one on Saturday," Scurry stated.
"I thought we played really well and really hard for most of the night tonight," McDevitt stated. "For about 36 or 37 minutes we were really good."
The Blue Raiders were excellent in many facets, highlighted by an outstanding rebounding night in which they carried a 46-30advantage on the glass with 18 offensive boards.
Senior James Hawthorne and freshman Jayce Johnson each recorded career-high numbers on the glass with 11 and 10 rebounds, respectively.
Sophomore Donovan Sims led the way offensively with 18 points, but was followed closely by Reggie Scurry's 16 and Antonio Green's 14.
The Hilltoppers controlled the opening tip and scored on their first trip down the court, but Sims had an immediate answer with a 3-pointer on the opposite end to give MT its first lead with just 49 ticks off the clock.
WKU looked to get its fans into the game early with a trio of trifectas around a Charles Bassey dunk turning the crowd volume up with an 18-12 lead on their home floor nine minutes into the contest.
However, the Blue Raiders wouldn't go quietly on the hilltop.
Down 22-16 after a Jared Savage jumper, the Blue Raiders exploded for a 12-0 run that included a Reggie Scurry dunk that reclaimed the lead for MT.
It took another dunk by the Toppers' 5-star freshman, Bassey, to stop the run, but the Raiders held their lead all the way into the locker room as they led 32-28 behind enemy lines at halftime.
Sims, Scurry and Green were nearly the entire offense before the break, combining for 28 of MT's 32 first half points as the Blue Raiders got a strong start on the glass with a 21-15 rebounding advantage in the opening 20 minutes.
WKU got their crowd right back into things after the break, reeling off a 13-0 run over a three-minute span that was finally ended by a straightaway triple from deep by Sims.
"We were a little sloppy to start the second half and it cost us," McDevitt added. "They beat us by about 12 in a three-minute stretch there and we ended up losing by eight. When you're playing a team that talented on the road every minute and every possession matters."
As the Toppers lead ballooned to 11 with 15 minutes on the game clock, it was time to see what the Blue Raiders were made of.
"With the young crew that we have this season, the atmosphere was just so big for them because it was something they haven't experienced yet," Scurry said. "In the huddles we just had to tell them to stay together and keep playing for each other so we could fight our way back in."
MT began to scratch and claw to stay in it, cutting the deficit all the way to two at 53-51 on Green's third triple of the evening before WKU answered with seven straight points.
Middle Tennessee still wasn't done yet, as Green led the Raiders back within three at 64-61 on yet another long distance make.
The triple, Green's fourth of the evening, gave him 85 on the season to match the single season school record set just a year ago by Giddy Potts.
Down the stretch, the Blue Raiders had opportunities to tie it up and pull off the upset but it was WKU's experience and home court advantage that won out in the end in Bowling Green.
The Blue Raiders must shift their focus quickly now, as the next game tips in less than 39 hours when MT and Marshall meet at 1:00 p.m. CT on Saturday in Huntington.
"We have to just take good care of our bodies tonight and tomorrow, get some good rest and be mentally prepared because it's going to be another tough one on Saturday," Scurry stated.
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
