Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Saturday, January 11
Murfreesboro, TN
5:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
-413,04 CUSA
53
vs
69
WKU
-106,31 CUSA
1
2
F
Western Ky.
42
27
69
Middle Tennessee
24
29
53
Team Stats
WESTKY
MT
FG%
.480
.358
3FG%
.286
.250
FT%
.654
.692
RB
35
34
TO
14
18
STL
6
2
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
5
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
Raiders fall at home to rival WKU
1/11/2020 8:32:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — The 138th meeting all-time between Middle Tennessee and WKU was ultimately decided by a six-minute stretch of the first half.
A battle through the game's first seven minutes saw the Hilltoppers (10-6, 3-1) take a slim one-point lead, then they broke it open. The Blue Raiders (4-13, 0-4) suffered through a 21-2 WKU run and couldn't recovered, losing 69-53.
Middle Tennessee's defeat was just its fourth in the teams' last 17 meetings and second in the last nine at the Murphy Center.
"We just weren't good enough in the first half tonight to win that game," MT head coach Nick McDevitt said. "We were, I thought, out of sorts on the offensive end with too many empty possessions."
When junior C.J. Jones hit a layup then 3-pointer early in the first half, the Blue Raiders were in a battle down 13-12.
A Hilltoppers dunk with 12:10 left in the half answered ended MT's 5-0 run and, ultimately, started what was the beginning of the blue and white's downfall.
WKU scored 11 points in a row before Jones had a dunk in transition, then the Hilltoppers went on a 10-0 run to take further control. At the 5:58 mark, Middle Tennessee's one-point deficit had turned into 20, and the road team took a 42-24 lead into halftime.
"We go on some scoring droughts right now, and there's a way to end that we aren't doing," McDevitt said. "We aren't getting to the free-throw line enough, and we aren't getting into the paint enough with the ball.
"We settle too often for long jump shots, either long twos or threes … and when you don't make those, the other team is going to go on a run."
It was a rough shooting night for the Blue Raiders, who finished 19 of 53 from the floor and 6 of 24 from 3-point range.
McDevitt said the lid on the basket has been frustrating for his team. Middle Tennessee hit just 39% (29-73) of its shots against Marshall Thursday in the first of the back-to-back games at home.
"There are some things that we just have to do better, and there are some things that are just no fault of their own," McDevitt said. "At the same time, we have to find a way to win some games. There's time to do that, but not a lot."
Scurry and sophomore Jayce Johnson were bright spots offensively for the Raiders. They hit 5 of 6 and 4 of 8 attempts, respectively, from the field, scoring 15 and 13 points. Scurry had six rebounds and Johnson had nine, four of them on the offensive end. He also had both of MT's steals.
Jones added 13 points, nine of them coming on three made 3-pointers, and five boards.
Middle Tennessee will look to end its eight-game losing streak on the road at Florida Atlantic on Thursday, following with a road tilt with FIU Saturday.
"The little things, that's where it all starts," Johnson said. "All those little things, they add up, and that's what turns a game around. … We have to keep on focusing on those little things, and that will help us get out of these droughts we get on and turn these losses into wins."
A battle through the game's first seven minutes saw the Hilltoppers (10-6, 3-1) take a slim one-point lead, then they broke it open. The Blue Raiders (4-13, 0-4) suffered through a 21-2 WKU run and couldn't recovered, losing 69-53.
Middle Tennessee's defeat was just its fourth in the teams' last 17 meetings and second in the last nine at the Murphy Center.
"We just weren't good enough in the first half tonight to win that game," MT head coach Nick McDevitt said. "We were, I thought, out of sorts on the offensive end with too many empty possessions."
When junior C.J. Jones hit a layup then 3-pointer early in the first half, the Blue Raiders were in a battle down 13-12.
A Hilltoppers dunk with 12:10 left in the half answered ended MT's 5-0 run and, ultimately, started what was the beginning of the blue and white's downfall.
WKU scored 11 points in a row before Jones had a dunk in transition, then the Hilltoppers went on a 10-0 run to take further control. At the 5:58 mark, Middle Tennessee's one-point deficit had turned into 20, and the road team took a 42-24 lead into halftime.
"We go on some scoring droughts right now, and there's a way to end that we aren't doing," McDevitt said. "We aren't getting to the free-throw line enough, and we aren't getting into the paint enough with the ball.
"We settle too often for long jump shots, either long twos or threes … and when you don't make those, the other team is going to go on a run."
It was a rough shooting night for the Blue Raiders, who finished 19 of 53 from the floor and 6 of 24 from 3-point range.
McDevitt said the lid on the basket has been frustrating for his team. Middle Tennessee hit just 39% (29-73) of its shots against Marshall Thursday in the first of the back-to-back games at home.
"There are some things that we just have to do better, and there are some things that are just no fault of their own," McDevitt said. "At the same time, we have to find a way to win some games. There's time to do that, but not a lot."
Scurry and sophomore Jayce Johnson were bright spots offensively for the Raiders. They hit 5 of 6 and 4 of 8 attempts, respectively, from the field, scoring 15 and 13 points. Scurry had six rebounds and Johnson had nine, four of them on the offensive end. He also had both of MT's steals.
Jones added 13 points, nine of them coming on three made 3-pointers, and five boards.
Middle Tennessee will look to end its eight-game losing streak on the road at Florida Atlantic on Thursday, following with a road tilt with FIU Saturday.
"The little things, that's where it all starts," Johnson said. "All those little things, they add up, and that's what turns a game around. … We have to keep on focusing on those little things, and that will help us get out of these droughts we get on and turn these losses into wins."
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
