Raiders struggle to convert in low-scoring affair

Friday, November 27

Estero, FL

10:00 AM

Middle Tennessee

East Tennessee

11/27/2020 12:25:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Season stats (PDF)

By: @MTAthletics

ESTERO, Fla. – Middle Tennessee's offense continued to struggle with converting shot attempts in game two of the 2020-21 season, falling 57-43 at the hands of East Tennessee State on Friday in the Gulf Coast Showcase.

The Blue Raiders shot just 30 percent (15-50) from the field in the contest, making only four of their 21 attempts from beyond the arc. MT was also out-rebounded once again by a tally of 37-33 and committed 27 turnovers on the day.

"Turnovers were definitely our undoing today," Head Coach Nick McDevitt stated. "We can't turn the ball over that many times and win the game. I thought both days down here we looked really good defensively, but just looked disjointed on offense and when we did get quality looks we didn't knock very many down. Right now we're just sputtering offensively, but keeping ourselves in games because of our effort and defense."

Defensively, Middle Tennessee held ETSU to 34 percent shooting with an 18 percent clip from 3-point range while logging double digit steals for the second game in a row.

Just as he did on Thursday, Donovan Sims started the scoring for the Blue Raiders with a three ball to answer a pair of opening buckets by the Buccaneers.

Middle Tennessee settled into the game a little better on day two, particularly on the defensive end, battling up and down the court with their in-state foe as neither team held more than a 4-point advantage in the opening 20 minutes.

It was a balanced effort for the Blue Raiders in the first frame, as Tyson Jackson led the way with six points. Sims added five while five other Raiders were on the scoresheet as MT trailed 24-22 at the break.

Coming out of the locker room, Middle Tennessee jumped out to a 5-0 start with all five points courtesy of DeAndre Dishman.

After a Blue Raider scoring drought allowed ETSU to regain a 2-point lead, Jackson called for the ball on the block and slammed one home at the 12-minute mark to end the Buccaneer run and tie things back up.

The Raiders hit another skid, however, which allowed ETSU to build up the largest lead of the game at 42-32 with just under seven minutes remaining to turn the game around.

Following a timeout called by McDevitt, Middle Tennessee went back to Dishman in the middle and he forced his way to the basket to make it a single-digit game once again.

It was only momentary, though, as the Buccaneers refused to take their foot off the gas in the closing minutes and cruised to their first win of the season.

Dishman led the way offensively on the day with 10 points and corralled six rebounds while Jackson pitched in eight points. Jordan Davis grabbed a team-high seven rebounds to go along with three steals.

"I think this team really needed a true preseason and more time around each other and we would clean up some of those mistakes," McDevitt added. "We've got to get better offensively and get in more of a flow on that end, stop becoming stagnant and letting the ball stick, and that's on us as coaches to get our players more comfortable in the offense on the floor."

With the shortened trip to south Florida now concluded, the Blue Raiders return to Murfreesboro to prepare for their Dec. 2 home opener against Murray State.