C-USA rivals set to visit Murphy Center

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Conference USA play opened with two comeback attempts that fell short on the road, but Middle Tennessee returns to the Murphy Center this week expecting to get back in the win column in front of the Blue Raider faithful.

Game 16: Middle Tennessee (4-11, 0-2 C-USA) vs. Marshall (7-8, 1-1 C-USA)
» Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020 – 6:30 p.m. CST
» Murphy Center (11,520) – Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Game 17: Middle Tennessee vs. Western Kentucky (9-5, 2-0 C-USA)
» Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020 – 5:00 p.m. CST
» Murphy Center (11,520) – Murfreesboro, Tenn.
» "Defend the Glass House" ticket package available through Jan. 9
» Promo code "DEFEND20" will give you a $20 ticket package including: a game ticket, long sleeve t-shirt, hot dog and drink.

About the Blue Raiders
» Middle Tennessee was unable to overcome slow starts against Old Dominion and Charlotte in the Conference USA opening road swing and have now lost six consecutive games.
» MT is worst in C-USA in first half point differential (-132) but is second in the league in second half point differential (74).
» C.J. Jones and Donovan Sims have started all 15 games of the 2019-20 season.
» Jones is fifth in C-USA in points per game (16.3) and third in C-USA in total field goals made (89).
» Sharing the ball seems to be a strong point for MT so far this year, as the Blue Raiders are third in C-USA in assists per game (14.5) and assist to turnover ratio (1.02).
» Antonio Green has continued to shoot from beyond the arc, as he is third in C-USA in 3-point field goals made (37) and attempted (111).
» Freshman forward Tyson Jackson leads his team in rebounds (5.7 per game) and field goal percentage (57.3%).

All-Time vs. Marshall
» Thursday's game at Marshall will be the 18th meeting between the two programs.
» Despite the Herd winning each of the last three games, the Blue Raiders maintain an 11-6 lead all-time in the series.

Scouting the Thundering Herd
» Marshall returns three starters from last season's team that won the CIT in the postseason.
» The Herd has missed all-time Marshall great Jon Elmore this season but is off to a promising 7-8 start to the season, including a 1-1 mark in C-USA play after splitting last week's home stand.
» Marshall has shown it is a gritty team, placing second in C-USA so far this season in steals, blocked shots and rebounds.
» Not only does 6-foot-5 guard Taevion Kinsey lead the Herd in points per game (14.7), but he is also second in C-USA in assists per game (4.7).
» 5-foot-11 guard Jarrod West has played more minutes this season than any other player in C-USA (35:28 per game), and he also ranks seventh in the nation in steals with 38.
» Forward Iran Bennett's 5.6 rebounds per game are best on the team. Kinsey trails close behind at 4.9 boards per contest.

All-Time vs. Western Kentucky
» Saturday's game at Western Kentucky will be the 138th meeting between the two programs, making this tied for the third most played rivalry for the Blue Raiders.
» Historically, WKU has a 43-94 advantage in the all-time series, but MT has won 13 of the last 16 games dating back to 2010.

Scouting the Hilltoppers
» Despite losing Naismith and Wooden Watch Lists member Charles Bassey after the first 10 games of this season, Western Kentucky has remained competitive.
» The Hilltoppers are 9-5 overall and coming off of a pair of wins at home against North Texas and Rice to open C-USA play.
» Northern Kentucky transfer Carson Williams leads all active Hilltoppers in points (13.4) and rebounds (6.1) per game. Williams also leads C-USA in field goal percentage (61.2%).
» IUPUI transfer Camron Justice a marksman for the Hilltoppers, as he is currently in the top 10 in most C-USA 3-point field goal categories.
» 6-foot-2 junior guard Taveion Hollingsworth joined Bassey on the 2019-20 C-USA Preseason Team and is the third of four Hilltoppers to average double digit points. He averages nearly 13 points and a team-leading three assists per game.
» Depth is an area of concern for WKU, as only six players on the roster have played all 14 games.

Last Time Out
» Middle Tennessee found itself fighting from behind in both games last week in road losses to Old Dominion and Charlotte.
» Eli Lawrence provided a spark in the second half comeback attempt against Old Dominion with a career high 19 points.
» Donovan Sims made three consecutive 3-pointers in the second half as MT erased a 21-point deficit in an 11-minute stretch. Sims finished with 20 points for the second time this season.
» The Blue Raiders trailed the 49ers by a point before Charlotte scored five unanswered in the final minute to seal the win on Saturday afternoon.

Next Time Out
» MT will head back on the road and travel south for two games in Florida.
» The Blue Raiders will tip off at Florida Atlantic on Thursday, Jan. 16 at 6 p.m.
» FIU will host MT two days later, with tipoff set for 6 p.m.
» Both games can be streamed on ESPN+.

For all the latest information on Middle Tennessee Men's Basketball, follow the #BlueRaiders on Facebook (@MTMensBasketball), Twitter (@MT_MBB) and Instagram (MT_MBB).

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Players Mentioned

Antonio Green

Tyson Jackson

C.J. Jones

Eli Lawrence

Donovan Sims

Middle Tennesee State University Athletics