Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Long road coming to an end for Mosley
2/27/2019 3:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Valuable walk-on to conclude Murphy Center career on Senior Night
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Murphy Center scoreboard read 7:50 remaining in the first half, Middle Tennessee trailing UTEP on its home floor 26-14. It was a tough start for a team that had just two days earlier captured its first Conference USA win under new head coach Nick McDevitt in an upset over UTSA.
With his team lacking energy in the Jan. 19 contest, McDevitt signaled for a timeout and got animated in front of his players and coaches on the sidelines, begging them to show the same fire they had the previous game.
He made a line change the likes of which you usually see in hockey, swapping out four starters for three freshmen and a senior walk-on.
The substitutions paid immediate dividends.
After freshman KJ Lewis forced a turnover, Lawrence Mosley, a senior walk-on playing his only season for the blue and white, got a contested layup to fall, enticing his teammates on the bench to yell like cheerleaders.
Middle Tennessee used the energy to rattle off a 13-3 run over the rest of the first half, going into the locker room trailing 29-27. The Blue Raiders would eventually win a tight affair 75-72.
Energy on the hardwood and gridiron
The boost Mosley and the other subs brought off the bench proved to be a pivotal turning point in the UTEP win. It was just business as usual for the senior walk-on, though, who's tried to do whatever he can for the Raiders in his only season in Murfreesboro.
"Whatever the team needs me to do or whatever coach asks me to do, I'm just trying to help the team win," the 6-foot-2, 200-pound guard said.
Mosley's willingness to do the dirty work comes from his days at Craigmont High School in Memphis, Tennessee, where as a senior in 2013-14 he averaged 11 points and nine rebounds per game for the Chiefs.
It wasn't his basketball skills that got the attention of college programs, however.
During his first three years of high school, Mosley's basketball coach urged him not to play football. That all changed when he was a senior, as his coach finally backed off and allowed Mosley to strap on shoulder pads.
In one season under the Friday night lights, Mosley starred. He started every game at safety and earned an invitation to the 2013 Autozone Liberty Bowl All-Star game, then began to see football offers roll in.
He chose to attend Arkansas-Pine Bluff on a full-ride scholarship to play safety.
"The coaches were cool, the community seemed like they supported the football program and having a full-ride was great," Mosely said. "It's great going to school for free."
Scratching the basketball itch
After one semester at Pine Bluff, Mosley started to look around for a football team in a bigger conference where he could walk on and prove himself. That brought his first encounter with Middle Tennessee, where he thought he could see himself playing for head coach Rick Stockstill.
When Mosley went with his brother to a basketball workout at Dyersburg State Community College in the spring of 2015, that all changed.
"The coach asked me if I wanted to work out, too," he said. "He offered me a scholarship right there."
Mosley ended up playing two seasons at Dyersburg, but things didn't start well. He had to miss the first half of his first season after suffering a concussion.
"The doctors told me they didn't want me playing basketball or football anymore, but I needed to hoop," he said. "It's a big part of my life.
"I believe in God, and I believe that whatever happens, happens. I've had to be a little more cautious on the court … but I'm still enjoying it."
MT interest renewed
With two years of junior college under his belt, Mosley's next step took him to a bit of a familiar place.
Before he decided on Dyersburg State, he had an interest in Middle Tennessee because of its Concrete Industry Management (CIM) program. It seemed like the perfect next step.
"My major is construction management, so the CIM program was a big draw for me," Mosley said. "My father owns a construction company, so I want to help expand it. Coming out of Middle Tennessee with my degree will help that … and I want to get a master's degree in computer engineering before I leave here, too."
Mosley wasn't done playing basketball, either, but he took a year off in 2017-18. Luckily, McDevitt had openings on the roster this season, creating an opportunity for Mosley to join the team as a walk-on.
He isn't just any walk-on, though.
As evidenced by his crucial minutes in the UTEP contest, Mosley has had a big impact on the Blue Raiders this season with his energy. He's seen action in 19 games, exceeding even the expectations he placed on himself before the season started.
"Lawrence has been the perfect addition to this year's basketball team," McDevitt said. "His maturity level, effort and energy are all things that have had a positive impact on our program not just this year but also moving forward."
The long college road has been unique for Mosley. He's gone from Division I football to junior college basketball, then out of collegiate athletics and finally back again in Division I basketball.
Now, he's preparing for the end of his college athletics career. He and his fellow Blue Raider seniors will be honored on senior day March 9 against, you guessed it, UTEP.
"It's been a good experience, just being with the guys and coaches and seeing how a Division I program operates," Mosley said. "I wouldn't trade this experience for anything."
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 his team lacking energy in the Jan. 19 contest, McDevitt signaled for a timeout and got animated in front of his players and coaches on the sidelines, begging them to show the same fire they had the previous game.
He made a line change the likes of which you usually see in hockey, swapping out four starters for three freshmen and a senior walk-on.
The substitutions paid immediate dividends.
After freshman KJ Lewis forced a turnover, Lawrence Mosley, a senior walk-on playing his only season for the blue and white, got a contested layup to fall, enticing his teammates on the bench to yell like cheerleaders.
Middle Tennessee used the energy to rattle off a 13-3 run over the rest of the first half, going into the locker room trailing 29-27. The Blue Raiders would eventually win a tight affair 75-72.
Energy on the hardwood and gridiron
The boost Mosley and the other subs brought off the bench proved to be a pivotal turning point in the UTEP win. It was just business as usual for the senior walk-on, though, who's tried to do whatever he can for the Raiders in his only season in Murfreesboro.
"Whatever the team needs me to do or whatever coach asks me to do, I'm just trying to help the team win," the 6-foot-2, 200-pound guard said.
Mosley's willingness to do the dirty work comes from his days at Craigmont High School in Memphis, Tennessee, where as a senior in 2013-14 he averaged 11 points and nine rebounds per game for the Chiefs.
It wasn't his basketball skills that got the attention of college programs, however.
During his first three years of high school, Mosley's basketball coach urged him not to play football. That all changed when he was a senior, as his coach finally backed off and allowed Mosley to strap on shoulder pads.
In one season under the Friday night lights, Mosley starred. He started every game at safety and earned an invitation to the 2013 Autozone Liberty Bowl All-Star game, then began to see football offers roll in.
He chose to attend Arkansas-Pine Bluff on a full-ride scholarship to play safety.
"The coaches were cool, the community seemed like they supported the football program and having a full-ride was great," Mosely said. "It's great going to school for free."
Scratching the basketball itch
After one semester at Pine Bluff, Mosley started to look around for a football team in a bigger conference where he could walk on and prove himself. That brought his first encounter with Middle Tennessee, where he thought he could see himself playing for head coach Rick Stockstill.
When Mosley went with his brother to a basketball workout at Dyersburg State Community College in the spring of 2015, that all changed.
"The coach asked me if I wanted to work out, too," he said. "He offered me a scholarship right there."
Mosley ended up playing two seasons at Dyersburg, but things didn't start well. He had to miss the first half of his first season after suffering a concussion.
"The doctors told me they didn't want me playing basketball or football anymore, but I needed to hoop," he said. "It's a big part of my life.
"I believe in God, and I believe that whatever happens, happens. I've had to be a little more cautious on the court … but I'm still enjoying it."
MT interest renewed
With two years of junior college under his belt, Mosley's next step took him to a bit of a familiar place.
Before he decided on Dyersburg State, he had an interest in Middle Tennessee because of its Concrete Industry Management (CIM) program. It seemed like the perfect next step.
"My major is construction management, so the CIM program was a big draw for me," Mosley said. "My father owns a construction company, so I want to help expand it. Coming out of Middle Tennessee with my degree will help that … and I want to get a master's degree in computer engineering before I leave here, too."
Mosley wasn't done playing basketball, either, but he took a year off in 2017-18. Luckily, McDevitt had openings on the roster this season, creating an opportunity for Mosley to join the team as a walk-on.
He isn't just any walk-on, though.
As evidenced by his crucial minutes in the UTEP contest, Mosley has had a big impact on the Blue Raiders this season with his energy. He's seen action in 19 games, exceeding even the expectations he placed on himself before the season started.
"Lawrence has been the perfect addition to this year's basketball team," McDevitt said. "His maturity level, effort and energy are all things that have had a positive impact on our program not just this year but also moving forward."
The long college road has been unique for Mosley. He's gone from Division I football to junior college basketball, then out of collegiate athletics and finally back again in Division I basketball.
Now, he's preparing for the end of his college athletics career. He and his fellow Blue Raider seniors will be honored on senior day March 9 against, you guessed it, UTEP.
"It's been a good experience, just being with the guys and coaches and seeing how a Division I program operates," Mosley said. "I wouldn't trade this experience for anything."
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.
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