Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
-61,00 CUSA
Bryan College (TN)
0-1
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Players Mentioned
Blue Raiders improve to 6-1 with win over Bryan College
11/27/2021 5:03:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Murfreesboro, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee (6-1) equaled its best-ever start through seven games Saturday by defeating Bryan College (5-5) 96-48. Tyler Millin led the Blue Raiders with 13 points in his return to the lineup.
Eleven different Blue Raiders found their way into the scoring column, each putting at least five points on the board. Joining Millin in double figures were Teafale Lenard Jr. (11), Christian Fussell (11) and Isaiah Turner (10). All twelve players who saw the floor recorded at least one rebound, with 10 pulling down multiple boards and three hauling in six or more.
"Everybody that's checking into the game is trying to do something to help us win," head coach Nick McDevitt said. "Just trying to control what they can control, particularly on the defensive end. We've got to continue to guard and rebound the basketball."
A short-lived slow start was unable to derail the Blue Raiders on the way to their second-highest offensive output of the year. MT made just two of its first seven field goal attempts over the first five minutes of the game, holding just a 5-2 lead at the 15-minute mark.
Over the next seven minutes, however, the Blue Raiders erupted for a 22-3 run to put the Lions in the rearview mirror. Middle Tennessee took a 42-16 lead into the locker room at halftime. Bryan finished the first half with 16 points scored and 18 turnovers committed.
The Blue Raiders increased their offensive efficiency in the second half, going 21-for-37 from the floor, good for a .568 shooting percentage. Jaellan White's nine second-half points led MT as it finished with double the Lions' total points for the game.
Millin went 5-for-8 from the floor and 1-for-3 from 3-point range Saturday after a bout with pancreatitis forced him to miss the past week's trip to Nacogdoches, Texas, and Cancun, Mexico.
"It feels great being back on the court," Millin said. "I've been kind of sick, but it's just been great being back with my team… We're doing a great job pressuring the ball and being in the right spots and playing as a team."
Lenard finished with a game-high seven rebounds, tying his career best. Turner and White led MT with three assist each.
The Blue Raiders are back in action Wednesday night at Murphy Center as they play host to UT Martin at 6 p.m.
Game Notes
- - At 6-1, Middle Tennessee has equaled its best record through the first seven games of a season and its eighth-best one-loss start in program history.
- - The 48-point margin of victory was MT's first win by 40 or more points since December 3, 2019 vs. Columbia International
- - Fussell's and Lenard's 11 points each were career highs.
- - White finished with career highs in points (9) and assists (3).
- - Turner and Fussell each notched career high rebound totals with six apiece.
- - Middle Tennessee's opponents have shot .352 (57-for-162) over the last three games.
- - The Blue Raiders have outrebounded their adversaries 124-91 over the last three games.
