Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Monday, February 21
Murfreesboro, TN
6:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
-207,113 CUSA
77
vs
59
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UTEP
-1611,96 CUSA
1
2
F
UTEP
30
29
59
Middle Tenn.
43
34
77
Team Stats
UTEP
MTSU
FG%
.365
.491
3FG%
.227
.478
FT%
.727
.667
RB
26
40
TO
8
8
STL
5
2
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
17
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
8
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
Middle Tennessee thrashes UTEP in Monday Make-Up
2/21/2022 9:42:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Five Blue Raiders finished the game with at least nine points
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee men's basketball dominated on both ends of the court in front of a raucous Murphy Center crowd on Monday night, racing past UTEP 77-59 for their 15th straight home win and 20th win of the season.
The Blue Raiders (20-7, 11-3 C-USA) had five players score at least nine points on Monday, led by 17 points on 70 percent shooting from Donovan Sims. The Miners (16-11, 9-6 C-USA) were held to just 19-for-52 from the field (36.5 percent), including 5-for-22 from beyond the arc (22.7 percent), as Middle Tennessee took advantage of porous interior defense from UTEP to score 26 points in the paint.
"I was really proud of our team," head coach Nick McDevitt said. "UTEP, they're tough, they're physical, they play really hard. We told our guys that you're going to have to match their physicality. I thought our team just showed a lot of toughness and togetherness, different guys stepping up."
The bench was key for MT on the night, contributing 26 points with all four bench players showing a +/- of at least +12, led by a +24 from Camryn Weston, who made eight of nine free throws en route to 12 points, a team-high seven rebounds and team-high four assists. Weston was key in attacking the basket early, helping force myriad UTEP forwards and centers into some early foul trouble
"One of my best traits, I'd say, is attacking the rim and drawing fouls," Weston said. "If the lane is open, I'm going to attack it, try to get there and finish. Obviously, I got fouled today, so I had to make the free throws."
Teafale Lenard continued his excellent freshman campaign off the bench, adding nine points, four boards and a team-high three blocks, contributing at one of several defenders on UTEP's Souley Boum, who scored 24 points by was just 7-for-18 from the field.
"Usually I'm guarding either Josh (Jefferson) or Donovan in practice," Lenard said of his defense on the perimeter. "So it just helps guard quicker offensive players."
The Blue Raiders once again put in a huge effort on the glass against a team with superior size, out rebounding the Miners 40-26 and putting up 12 second chance points to UTEP's one. The Blue Raiders were also winners on points in the paint (26-18), fast break points (8-4) and bench points (26-13).
Middle Tennessee held a 43-30 lead at halftime thanks to lockdown defense and lights out shooting. The Blue Raiders held the Miners to just 34.5 percent (10-29) from the field, including a 25 percent clip (3-12) beyond the arc, while making 53.8 percent (14-26) of their own shots, including a 50 percent rate (6-12) for three.
MT trailed 10-7 at the under-16 media timeout, but after a technical foul was assessed to the Blue Raider bench, went on a 21-8 run to the under-8 media timeout to set the stage for their halftime lead.
The second half would feature more of the same, as UTEP went ice cold from three (2-10) in the final 20 minutes, while MT continued to rain down shots from outside (5-11). The Blue Raiders outscored the Miners 34-29, led by 10 second half points from the hands of Josh Jefferson.
The big President's Day crowd certainly played a factor in MT hitting 20 wins in a season for the first time since 2018, and the Blue Raiders will hope to have the group return for the middle game of their three-game homestand this Thursday against Marshall. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
"When the crowd is in, we're all in it," Weston said. "It just makes a big difference."
Middle Tennessee is back in action Thursday as it hosts Marshall at 6 p.m. CT. at the Murphy Center.
Game Notes
The Blue Raiders (20-7, 11-3 C-USA) had five players score at least nine points on Monday, led by 17 points on 70 percent shooting from Donovan Sims. The Miners (16-11, 9-6 C-USA) were held to just 19-for-52 from the field (36.5 percent), including 5-for-22 from beyond the arc (22.7 percent), as Middle Tennessee took advantage of porous interior defense from UTEP to score 26 points in the paint.
"I was really proud of our team," head coach Nick McDevitt said. "UTEP, they're tough, they're physical, they play really hard. We told our guys that you're going to have to match their physicality. I thought our team just showed a lot of toughness and togetherness, different guys stepping up."
The bench was key for MT on the night, contributing 26 points with all four bench players showing a +/- of at least +12, led by a +24 from Camryn Weston, who made eight of nine free throws en route to 12 points, a team-high seven rebounds and team-high four assists. Weston was key in attacking the basket early, helping force myriad UTEP forwards and centers into some early foul trouble
"One of my best traits, I'd say, is attacking the rim and drawing fouls," Weston said. "If the lane is open, I'm going to attack it, try to get there and finish. Obviously, I got fouled today, so I had to make the free throws."
Teafale Lenard continued his excellent freshman campaign off the bench, adding nine points, four boards and a team-high three blocks, contributing at one of several defenders on UTEP's Souley Boum, who scored 24 points by was just 7-for-18 from the field.
"Usually I'm guarding either Josh (Jefferson) or Donovan in practice," Lenard said of his defense on the perimeter. "So it just helps guard quicker offensive players."
The Blue Raiders once again put in a huge effort on the glass against a team with superior size, out rebounding the Miners 40-26 and putting up 12 second chance points to UTEP's one. The Blue Raiders were also winners on points in the paint (26-18), fast break points (8-4) and bench points (26-13).
Middle Tennessee held a 43-30 lead at halftime thanks to lockdown defense and lights out shooting. The Blue Raiders held the Miners to just 34.5 percent (10-29) from the field, including a 25 percent clip (3-12) beyond the arc, while making 53.8 percent (14-26) of their own shots, including a 50 percent rate (6-12) for three.
MT trailed 10-7 at the under-16 media timeout, but after a technical foul was assessed to the Blue Raider bench, went on a 21-8 run to the under-8 media timeout to set the stage for their halftime lead.
The second half would feature more of the same, as UTEP went ice cold from three (2-10) in the final 20 minutes, while MT continued to rain down shots from outside (5-11). The Blue Raiders outscored the Miners 34-29, led by 10 second half points from the hands of Josh Jefferson.
The big President's Day crowd certainly played a factor in MT hitting 20 wins in a season for the first time since 2018, and the Blue Raiders will hope to have the group return for the middle game of their three-game homestand this Thursday against Marshall. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
"When the crowd is in, we're all in it," Weston said. "It just makes a big difference."
Middle Tennessee is back in action Thursday as it hosts Marshall at 6 p.m. CT. at the Murphy Center.
Game Notes
- The Blue Raiders' magic number is down to one, meaning one Blue Raider win or a loss each by Western Kentucky and Florida Atlantic would mean MT's worst possible finish to the regular season would be a tie for the top spot in the C-USA East Division.
- Middle Tennessee's 15-game home winning streak is tied for the fourth-longest on record.
- Jefferson scored in double figures for the eighth straight game, setting a new career-long streak.
- MT's eight turnovers were the fewest it has committed against a Division I opponent this year.
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MTSU Men's Basketball Post Game Press Conference vs Chattanooga NIT 3/18/25
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