Late free throws give MT gutsy win

Friday, February 5

Murfreesboro, TN

6:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

-411,27 CUSA

Charlotte

-98,54 CUSA

Charlotte

Middle Tennessee

2/5/2021 8:43:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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By: @MTAthletics

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — There was one word Middle Tennessee head coach Nick McDevitt had to describe his Blue Raiders' performance Friday night against Charlotte: gutsy.

After losing leading scorer Dontrell Shuler with 10:55 left to play due to an injury, the Raiders (4-11, 2-7) didn't let the 49ers (9-8, 5-4) escape victorious. They battled, and when junior Jalen Jordan hit a pair of free throws with 11 seconds left, they snagged a 66-65 lead.

Charlotte had one last chance but didn't get a shot off against MT's smothering defense.

"I was really proud of our team," McDevitt said. "It was a really good team win.

"Jalen made two game-winning plays at the end there. … We had a few injuries throughout the course of the game, and it didn't deflate our basketball team. They've been thrown a lot, and they just keep battling."

Jordan hadn't played in three games due to dislocating a finger on his shooting hand. He fell victim to some cramping in the second half after playing 20 minutes off the bench, but he wouldn't let his team down.

He came up with a steal on the perimeter and was fouled trying to get to the rim with 11 seconds left. After stretching out his right leg to try and get some movement back, he calmly stepped up to the line and drained both free throws.

Seven of Jordan's 10 points came in the final 10 minutes. His clutch freebies at the end were his only trip to the line.

"Coming back from the injury, it felt so good," he said. "I was a little nervous, but my teammates gave me confidence, and my finger felt fine the more I played."

Shuler was the guiding force keeping Middle Tennessee on Charlotte's heals before he was forced out.

He scored a game-high 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting.

"We'll have him evaluated if not tonight, first thing in the morning, but our thoughts are certainly with him and we're hoping for the best," McDevitt said.

Without Shuler, Middle Tennessee effectively used a balanced scoring effort, leading to a season-high 55% shooting from the floor (26-47).

Junior Jordan Davis was in double figures with 10 points; junior Jayce Johnson added nine points, five assists and four rebounds; and senior Jo'Vontae Millner-Criss had eight points and five rebounds.

That balanced attack will be key if Shuler is forced out for an extended period of time.

"We have to keep trusting and keep believing in one another," Jordan said. "That's how we're going to win from here on out is sharing the ball and getting each other a good look. It could be anybody's night, and I think that's how we'll continue to play from here on out."

Middle Tennessee will try to carry over the momentum into Saturday. Tipoff against the 49ers is set for 4 p.m.

The Blue Raiders will also have fans in the stands again Saturday after allowing 800 into the Murphy Center Friday for the first time this season.

"I thought it was long overdue," McDevitt said. "We're thankful to our school administration working diligently to figure out a way to get our fans back in here. It helped us tonight."