Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Saturday, January 4
Charlotte, NC
3:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
-411, 02 CUSA
62
at
68
Charlotte
-85, 20 CUSA
1
2
F
Middle Tennessee
21
41
62
Charlotte
38
30
68
Team Stats
MT
CLT
FG%
.434
.488
3FG%
.333
.500
FT%
.667
.632
RB
30
30
TO
17
17
STL
8
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
20
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
3
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
Another comeback ends in heartbreak for Blue Raiders
1/4/2020 5:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – In another attempt to come from behind and steal one on the road, the Blue Raider Men's Basketball team fell just short Saturday night at Charlotte.
Another slow start saw the Raiders fall down by as much as 22 early in the second half before rallying back to tie the game, but ultimately dropped the contest by a final score of 68-62.
"I am really proud of our effort to come back, get some stops and tie the game up tonight," Head Coach Nick McDevitt said. "We had a chance and just missed a couple open ones that probably would have turned it in the other direction."
Junior guards Donovan Sims and C.J. Jones were the offensive stalwarts as the game's highest two scorers on the night with 20 and 16, respectively. Sims also collected five assists and three steals while senior Antonio Green, making his first ever appearance off the bench for Middle Tennessee, pitched in with 10 points of his own.
The Blue Raiders shot 43.4 percent (23 of 53) from the field and 33.3 percent (8 of 24) from three in the contest while Charlotte shot just shy of 49 percent (20 of 41) and tallied 24 free throws to MT's 8 thanks to a 30 to 14 foul count.
Middle Tennessee started Charlotte's offense out with a healthy dose of half-court press and it worked to perfection as the Niners committed five turnovers in the first five minutes of action and trailed the Raiders 7-5.
Early shooting woes were an issue for the second time on the two-game road trip, however, with MT connecting on just three of their first 15 field goal attempts in Halton Arena to surrender their lead and fall behind 17-10 just inside the 10-minute mark.
The improved defense was keeping the Blue Raiders in it for much of the first half as they remained just seven down through more than 17 minutes.
With 3:17 remaining on the clock in the opening frame, though, Charlotte caught fire to the tune of a 12-2 run to take a 38-21 advantage into the locker room.
The Blue Raiders got an easy look their first trip down the court after the break, but it would be one of few in the ensuing 10 minutes as Charlotte's new-look defense under second-year Head Coach Ron Sanchez continued to clamp down.
Then just as it did at the 10-minute mark at Old Dominion, the game began to turn.
Down 19 and looking for something positive on offense, Sims took it to the hole for a left-handed layup and sparked a 9-0 run that included a Jones triple and a pair of buckets by Jayce Johnson.
The Buffalo native wasn't done working either, answering the Niners' 1 for 2 trip to the free throw line with another strong move in the post before a traveling violation on Charlotte led to the penultimate media timeout with the deficit back to single digits.
The Blue Raiders came out of the stoppage looking for a corner three to keep the momentum going and got it from Sims, bringing the score to 51-45 thanks to a 16-1 run.
Charlotte would respond with their first made field goal in nearly seven minutes, but the Raiders were already back in it.
With the half-court press back in working order, Middle Tennessee opened up another run to the tune of 9-1 on two trifectas by Sims and another by Jones that knotted the game at 54 apiece.
"Obviously the second half numbers were a lot better after going 2 for 14 from three in the first half, and once we got some shots to go in we were able to try some different defenses and put them on their heels," McDevitt added.
"For stretches we were really good defensively tonight, but not enough to win the game. When we got to 54 all we had a couple breakdowns at a time that we'd really like to have them back."
Unfortunately for MT, a quickly improving Charlotte program had a re-energized fanbase that wouldn't give up on their team just yet and willed them to a 5-0 response entering the final media break.
The teams would trade blows down the stretch until a Jones jumper from the free throw line that brought the Raiders within one at 63-62 prompted McDevitt to use his final timeout to set his defense with 1:09 on the clock.
It was heartbreak once again, however, as the 49ers escaped another valiant Blue Raider comeback attempt in the end.
"We're always fighting for 40 minutes every time out, but it's hurting us to get down in holes early like we've really been doing all season long," Sims said. "It's conference play now and it's time to turn that around. We believe if we can correct that we would be 2-0 heading home."
Middle Tennessee returns to Murphy Center for their Conference USA home opener on Thursday when they host Marshall at 6:30 p.m.
Another slow start saw the Raiders fall down by as much as 22 early in the second half before rallying back to tie the game, but ultimately dropped the contest by a final score of 68-62.
"I am really proud of our effort to come back, get some stops and tie the game up tonight," Head Coach Nick McDevitt said. "We had a chance and just missed a couple open ones that probably would have turned it in the other direction."
Junior guards Donovan Sims and C.J. Jones were the offensive stalwarts as the game's highest two scorers on the night with 20 and 16, respectively. Sims also collected five assists and three steals while senior Antonio Green, making his first ever appearance off the bench for Middle Tennessee, pitched in with 10 points of his own.
The Blue Raiders shot 43.4 percent (23 of 53) from the field and 33.3 percent (8 of 24) from three in the contest while Charlotte shot just shy of 49 percent (20 of 41) and tallied 24 free throws to MT's 8 thanks to a 30 to 14 foul count.
Middle Tennessee started Charlotte's offense out with a healthy dose of half-court press and it worked to perfection as the Niners committed five turnovers in the first five minutes of action and trailed the Raiders 7-5.
Early shooting woes were an issue for the second time on the two-game road trip, however, with MT connecting on just three of their first 15 field goal attempts in Halton Arena to surrender their lead and fall behind 17-10 just inside the 10-minute mark.
The improved defense was keeping the Blue Raiders in it for much of the first half as they remained just seven down through more than 17 minutes.
With 3:17 remaining on the clock in the opening frame, though, Charlotte caught fire to the tune of a 12-2 run to take a 38-21 advantage into the locker room.
The Blue Raiders got an easy look their first trip down the court after the break, but it would be one of few in the ensuing 10 minutes as Charlotte's new-look defense under second-year Head Coach Ron Sanchez continued to clamp down.
Then just as it did at the 10-minute mark at Old Dominion, the game began to turn.
Down 19 and looking for something positive on offense, Sims took it to the hole for a left-handed layup and sparked a 9-0 run that included a Jones triple and a pair of buckets by Jayce Johnson.
The Buffalo native wasn't done working either, answering the Niners' 1 for 2 trip to the free throw line with another strong move in the post before a traveling violation on Charlotte led to the penultimate media timeout with the deficit back to single digits.
The Blue Raiders came out of the stoppage looking for a corner three to keep the momentum going and got it from Sims, bringing the score to 51-45 thanks to a 16-1 run.
Charlotte would respond with their first made field goal in nearly seven minutes, but the Raiders were already back in it.
With the half-court press back in working order, Middle Tennessee opened up another run to the tune of 9-1 on two trifectas by Sims and another by Jones that knotted the game at 54 apiece.
"Obviously the second half numbers were a lot better after going 2 for 14 from three in the first half, and once we got some shots to go in we were able to try some different defenses and put them on their heels," McDevitt added.
"For stretches we were really good defensively tonight, but not enough to win the game. When we got to 54 all we had a couple breakdowns at a time that we'd really like to have them back."
Unfortunately for MT, a quickly improving Charlotte program had a re-energized fanbase that wouldn't give up on their team just yet and willed them to a 5-0 response entering the final media break.
The teams would trade blows down the stretch until a Jones jumper from the free throw line that brought the Raiders within one at 63-62 prompted McDevitt to use his final timeout to set his defense with 1:09 on the clock.
It was heartbreak once again, however, as the 49ers escaped another valiant Blue Raider comeback attempt in the end.
"We're always fighting for 40 minutes every time out, but it's hurting us to get down in holes early like we've really been doing all season long," Sims said. "It's conference play now and it's time to turn that around. We believe if we can correct that we would be 2-0 heading home."
Middle Tennessee returns to Murphy Center for their Conference USA home opener on Thursday when they host Marshall at 6:30 p.m.
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
