Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Saturday, February 23
Murfreesboro, TN
5:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
9-19, 6-9
86
vs
67
Charlotte
6-20, 3-12
1
2
F
Charlotte
32
35
67
Middle Tennessee
48
38
86
Team Stats
CHA
MT
FG%
.471
.623
3FG%
.333
.455
FT%
.833
.588
RB
28
23
TO
17
9
STL
8
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
21
FGM
7
3FGM
5
FTM
2
Pts
20
FGM
8
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballMT opens Bonus Play with convincing win against 49ers
2/23/2019 7:44:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Conference USA entered bonus play to decide conference tournament seeding on Saturday, and Middle Tennessee got off on the right foot.
With Charlotte (6-20, 3-12) visiting the Murphy Center for the second time in 16 days, the Blue Raiders (9-19, 6-9) cruised to an 86-67 win, their ninth in 10 games all-time against the 49ers and ninth in a row in the series.
"I was really pleased with the way we played almost the entire night," Middle Tennessee head coach Nick McDevitt said. "I thought we were locked in for the majority of the night on them as a team."
It was an all-around effort for MT, especially in the scoring department.
For the first time this season against a Division I opponent, the Blue Raiders had five players in double-figure scoring. They last time accomplished that was against NAIA Milligan in the second game of the season, a 102-70 win.
Senior Antonio Green, who was honored pregame for breaking the program's single-season 3-point record, led the way with 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including 5-of-8 from distance. Sophomore Donovan Sims (20), seniors James Hawthorne (12) and Karl Gamble (10), and junior Reggie Scurry (11) were also in double figures.
"We were doing what we were supposed to do, moving the ball from side to side and getting midline crosses," Green said. "Once we move the ball side to side a lot, our percentages go up.
"I think we ran the offense and made shots when they came."
Middle Tennessee's hot shooting started in the middle of the first half, and it all but put the game out of reach.
After starting 5-for-10, the Blue Raiders made 13 of their next 16 shots from the floor to end the half, turning a tie at 12 into a 16-point lead at the break. They also only turned the ball over three times in the first 20 minutes.
The 48-32 halftime advantage fell to as little as seven in the second half, but then grew to as many as 22 as the blue and white righted the ship. In the end, they shot a season-high 62 percent (33-53) and ended with a 17:9 assist-to-turnover ratio.
"When that ball's moving side to side, you just get open looks," McDevitt said. "I just thought we moved the ball well tonight."
Part of MT's offensive explosion came as a result of some stingy defense.
The 49ers, who went into the game 13th in C-USA in turnover margin, coughed the ball up 11 times in the first half and ended with 17 turnovers, leading to 30 Blue Raider points. Middle Tennessee had just nine turnovers, tying its season low.
"That felt good," Green said. "That's a different dynamic for us, because that's something we don't normally do. It was good for us."
Middle Tennessee will get eight days off before continuing bonus play at Rice on March 3, then it'll travel to UTEP on March 6 before hosting the Miners three days later to conclude the regular season.
Having eight days off will be nice for McDevitt and his Blue Raiders, but he has some concern about ending the season with three games in six days before heading to the C-USA Tournament March 13.
"The nice thing is you're on the same playing field with most of everyone else in the league," McDevitt said. "We have to be smart about how we approach the next couple of days … what you want to have is guys to have enough energy in the tank to go play as hard as you saw tonight.
"We want to practice hard but for a short time and make sure we're making a few small adjustments."
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.
With Charlotte (6-20, 3-12) visiting the Murphy Center for the second time in 16 days, the Blue Raiders (9-19, 6-9) cruised to an 86-67 win, their ninth in 10 games all-time against the 49ers and ninth in a row in the series.
"I was really pleased with the way we played almost the entire night," Middle Tennessee head coach Nick McDevitt said. "I thought we were locked in for the majority of the night on them as a team."
It was an all-around effort for MT, especially in the scoring department.
For the first time this season against a Division I opponent, the Blue Raiders had five players in double-figure scoring. They last time accomplished that was against NAIA Milligan in the second game of the season, a 102-70 win.
Senior Antonio Green, who was honored pregame for breaking the program's single-season 3-point record, led the way with 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including 5-of-8 from distance. Sophomore Donovan Sims (20), seniors James Hawthorne (12) and Karl Gamble (10), and junior Reggie Scurry (11) were also in double figures.
"We were doing what we were supposed to do, moving the ball from side to side and getting midline crosses," Green said. "Once we move the ball side to side a lot, our percentages go up.
"I think we ran the offense and made shots when they came."
Middle Tennessee's hot shooting started in the middle of the first half, and it all but put the game out of reach.
After starting 5-for-10, the Blue Raiders made 13 of their next 16 shots from the floor to end the half, turning a tie at 12 into a 16-point lead at the break. They also only turned the ball over three times in the first 20 minutes.
The 48-32 halftime advantage fell to as little as seven in the second half, but then grew to as many as 22 as the blue and white righted the ship. In the end, they shot a season-high 62 percent (33-53) and ended with a 17:9 assist-to-turnover ratio.
"When that ball's moving side to side, you just get open looks," McDevitt said. "I just thought we moved the ball well tonight."
Part of MT's offensive explosion came as a result of some stingy defense.
The 49ers, who went into the game 13th in C-USA in turnover margin, coughed the ball up 11 times in the first half and ended with 17 turnovers, leading to 30 Blue Raider points. Middle Tennessee had just nine turnovers, tying its season low.
"That felt good," Green said. "That's a different dynamic for us, because that's something we don't normally do. It was good for us."
Middle Tennessee will get eight days off before continuing bonus play at Rice on March 3, then it'll travel to UTEP on March 6 before hosting the Miners three days later to conclude the regular season.
Having eight days off will be nice for McDevitt and his Blue Raiders, but he has some concern about ending the season with three games in six days before heading to the C-USA Tournament March 13.
"The nice thing is you're on the same playing field with most of everyone else in the league," McDevitt said. "We have to be smart about how we approach the next couple of days … what you want to have is guys to have enough energy in the tank to go play as hard as you saw tonight.
"We want to practice hard but for a short time and make sure we're making a few small adjustments."
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
