Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
-85,11 CUSA
Charlotte
-103,11 CUSA
Big second half pushes 49ers past Blue Raiders
12/29/2022 7:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Middle Tennessee appeared to be mounting a comeback late in Thursday's game at Charlotte, cutting a 12-point deficit to five on multiple occasions, but the host 49ers went on a 14-4 run over the final two minutes to emerge with an 82-67 win. Charlotte was 10-10 from the free throw line in the final 2:34 to salt away the game.
Charlotte took a one-point lead into the locker room at halftime, but the Blue Raiders continued to battle, leading 50-47 with 11:34 to play. The home squad responded with a 17-2 run over the next five-and-a-half minutes.
The 49ers built their lead with the help of a 13-5 disparity in fouls called in the second half, knocking down 13 of the resulting 17 free throws. Head coach Nick McDevitt was assessed two technical fouls and disqualified late in the game in the process of demonstrating this disparity.
Charlotte was the more efficient shooting team Thursday, making 60 percent of its field goal attempts, including a 6-for-10 performance beyond the arc. Brice Williams led the 49ers with 31 points off the bench after entering the game averaging 8.9 points per game.
The Blue Raiders had their best night from the free throw line on the season, going 11-for-11 from the charity stripe, including all three of their second-half attempts. Teafale Lenard, Jr., and Elias King led MTSU with 12 points apiece. DeAndre Dishman's six rebounds were a team high, while Camryn Weston paced the team with four assists.
By the Numbers
4: Teafale Lenard, Jr., tied a career high with four steals.
1.000: MTSU recorded its first perfect night from the free throw line since March 7, 2015, against Florida Atlantic.
300: Thursday's game was the 300th of head coach Nick McDevitt's career.
Blue Raider Notes
- Jared Coleman-Jones scored a season high nine points, his most as a Blue Raider.
- Coleman-Jones knocked down the third 3-pointer of his career and first since Jan. 24, 2021, vs. Western Kentucky. He is now 2-2 from long range as a Blue Raider.
- MTSU remains winless at Halton Arena since 2018.
Thoughts from Head Coach Nick McDevitt
"In the course of about four or five minutes, they went on [a 17-2 run], that four or five minutes was the difference in the game… I thought we showed some resiliency, and teams at home tend to shoot it better. The crowd is behind you. We knew that that was coming."
Up Next
Middle Tennessee returns home to take on Western Kentucky at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Murphy Center.
Follow the Blue Raiders
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