Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Thursday, January 9
Murfreesboro, TN
6:30 PM
Middle Tennessee
-412,03 CUSA
75
vs
79
Marshall
-88,21 CUSA
1
2
F
Marshall
39
40
79
Middle Tennessee
32
43
75
Team Stats
MARSH
MT
FG%
.484
.397
3FG%
.444
.367
FT%
.529
.500
RB
41
41
TO
14
12
STL
6
10
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
21
FGM
8
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
18
FGM
7
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
Photo by: Stephanie Van Horn / MT Athletics Communications
MT’s final run comes up short against Marshall
1/9/2020 9:03:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee couldn't complete its final run to get a comeback victory Thursday against Marshall.
At the Murphy Center, the Blue Raiders (4-12, 0-3) and Thundering Herd (8-8, 2-1) played a teeter-totter type of game that eventually ended 79-75 in favor of the road team. It was MT's seventh loss in a row.
"We had some longer stretches tonight of pretty good basketball … I just thought it was a nip-and-tuck game for most of the game, and each time you felt like we had a chance to take a lead, they made some timely shots," Raiders head coach Nick McDevitt said.
Middle Tennessee found itself trailing by double digits early in the second half after a quick 7-1 Herd run out of the break, and it was a battle to get back into it from there.
The blue and white cut Marshall's advantage down to three twice, but the Thundering Herd always seemed to have an answer.
After the lead went back to nine with 3:15 remaining, MT made its final push. A 3-pointer from junior Donovan Sims was followed by a layup from junior C.J. Jones to make it a four-point game, but again the Herd would have none of the comeback.
Marshall answered with a layup and 3-pointer of its own, going back up nine before a couple of desperation shots from Sims and Jones made things a bit interesting in the final seconds.
"We kept fighting right until the final buzzer," Sims said. "Especially at this level, you just have to keep fighting for the whole 40 minutes."
The Blue Raiders have been notorious for slow starts of late, and they again were a little weary early on Thursday before improved ball handling and offensive rebounding helped get them back into it.
They turned the ball over three times in the first two minutes, allowing the Thundering Herd to build as much as a nine-point lead before some got settled into their Murphy Center seats.
"If I knew [the reason behind it], we'd do something different," McDevitt said of the slow starts. "I think some of that can get in your head a little bit … and you just have to work yourself through that.
"In the first half, out of the five four-minute segments, we won the middle three but lost the first four-minute segment and lost the last four-minute segment."
Middle Tennessee responded to the slow start, only committing five more turnovers in the half after the first two minutes, combined with seven offensive rebounds that led to nine second-chance points. It finished with 16 offensive boards in the game, leading to 15 points.
When Jones hit two of three free throws with 5:21 left in the half, the Blue Raiders grabbed their first lead, 28-27, though it wouldn't last long.
The Thundering Herd battled back, ending the half on a 12-4 run to take a 39-32 lead into the break.
"It just seemed like every time we made a run, they made a big basket," McDevitt said. "The crowd gets into it … then they burry a 3-pointer. That's where you just have to have a little bit of toughness about you and keep playing."
Jones led the Raiders in the scoring column with a game-high 21 points on 8 of 22 shooting. Sims had 18 points, making 7 of 16 shots, to go with seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. Senior Reggie Scurry narrowly missed a double-double with nine points and 13 rebounds, including eight offensive boards.
Moving forward, McDevitt wants to see his team continue to be more consistent for a complete 40 minutes. Rival WKU will travel to the Murphy Center on Saturday for a 5 p.m. tipoff.
"We made enough mistakes tonight, and some simple ones, that were we a little more disciplined, the result could've been different," McDevitt said. "We have to clean that up.
At the Murphy Center, the Blue Raiders (4-12, 0-3) and Thundering Herd (8-8, 2-1) played a teeter-totter type of game that eventually ended 79-75 in favor of the road team. It was MT's seventh loss in a row.
"We had some longer stretches tonight of pretty good basketball … I just thought it was a nip-and-tuck game for most of the game, and each time you felt like we had a chance to take a lead, they made some timely shots," Raiders head coach Nick McDevitt said.
Middle Tennessee found itself trailing by double digits early in the second half after a quick 7-1 Herd run out of the break, and it was a battle to get back into it from there.
The blue and white cut Marshall's advantage down to three twice, but the Thundering Herd always seemed to have an answer.
After the lead went back to nine with 3:15 remaining, MT made its final push. A 3-pointer from junior Donovan Sims was followed by a layup from junior C.J. Jones to make it a four-point game, but again the Herd would have none of the comeback.
Marshall answered with a layup and 3-pointer of its own, going back up nine before a couple of desperation shots from Sims and Jones made things a bit interesting in the final seconds.
"We kept fighting right until the final buzzer," Sims said. "Especially at this level, you just have to keep fighting for the whole 40 minutes."
The Blue Raiders have been notorious for slow starts of late, and they again were a little weary early on Thursday before improved ball handling and offensive rebounding helped get them back into it.
They turned the ball over three times in the first two minutes, allowing the Thundering Herd to build as much as a nine-point lead before some got settled into their Murphy Center seats.
"If I knew [the reason behind it], we'd do something different," McDevitt said of the slow starts. "I think some of that can get in your head a little bit … and you just have to work yourself through that.
"In the first half, out of the five four-minute segments, we won the middle three but lost the first four-minute segment and lost the last four-minute segment."
Middle Tennessee responded to the slow start, only committing five more turnovers in the half after the first two minutes, combined with seven offensive rebounds that led to nine second-chance points. It finished with 16 offensive boards in the game, leading to 15 points.
When Jones hit two of three free throws with 5:21 left in the half, the Blue Raiders grabbed their first lead, 28-27, though it wouldn't last long.
The Thundering Herd battled back, ending the half on a 12-4 run to take a 39-32 lead into the break.
"It just seemed like every time we made a run, they made a big basket," McDevitt said. "The crowd gets into it … then they burry a 3-pointer. That's where you just have to have a little bit of toughness about you and keep playing."
Jones led the Raiders in the scoring column with a game-high 21 points on 8 of 22 shooting. Sims had 18 points, making 7 of 16 shots, to go with seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. Senior Reggie Scurry narrowly missed a double-double with nine points and 13 rebounds, including eight offensive boards.
Moving forward, McDevitt wants to see his team continue to be more consistent for a complete 40 minutes. Rival WKU will travel to the Murphy Center on Saturday for a 5 p.m. tipoff.
"We made enough mistakes tonight, and some simple ones, that were we a little more disciplined, the result could've been different," McDevitt said. "We have to clean that up.
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
