Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
-52,10 CUSA
Montana State
3-5,0-0Big Sky
Turnovers, King's putback push Blue Raiders past hot-shooting Montana State
11/27/2022 3:35:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LAVAL, Quebec — Montana State's 23rd turnover of the game gave Middle Tennessee the ball back with 31.9 seconds remaining in the game, facing a one-point deficit. Elias King's second-chance layup gave his team a 72-71 lead, and the Blue Raiders held on for the final 18 seconds to finish the Northern Classic undefeated.
MTSU used its length to make the Bobcats uncomfortable, forcing 14 turnovers in the second half with the help of an extended zone press. Montana State stayed in the game with red-hot shooting, making 15 of 20 second-half field goal attempts, including nine of their first 10.
Jestin Porter led the Blue Raiders with 16 points, one of four players with double-digit scoring figures for MTSU. King finished with 12 points and a team-high seven rebounds. DeAndre Dishman added 14 points, and Teafale Lenard Jr. chipped in with 12.
By the Numbers
5: The Blue Raiders have now won five straight games played outside of the United States.
26: MTSU scored a season-high 26 points off turnovers.
1: Middle Tennessee picked up its first one-point win since February 5, 2021.
Blue Raider Notes
- MTSU is now 8-2 in neutral site games since the start of the 2021-22 season, having been 1-15 in the previous four seasons.
- After leading for 69 minutes and 53 seconds of its first two games of the event, Middle Tennessee had to battle through 24 lead changes and 12 ties.
- The Blue Raiders' 13 steals were a season high.
"It just felt like a championship level game and a heavyweight fight, and that was what we kept telling our guys. These guys are good... It was just a tough, hard-fought basketball game. Fortunately, we came out on the right side of it."
Up Next
The Blue Raiders head to Olean, N. Y., Wednesday to take on St. Bonaventure at 6 p.m. Central.
Follow the Blue Raiders
Follow Middle Tennessee Men's Basketball on social media on Facebook (//MTMensBasketball), Twitter (@MT_MBB) and Instagram (@mt_mbb).
