Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Monday, February 7
Murfreesboro, TN
6:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
-157,63 CUSA
84
vs
75
UTSA
-817,111 CUSA
1
2
F
UTSA
32
43
75
Middle Tenn.
38
46
84
Team Stats
UTSA
MTSU
FG%
.429
.537
3FG%
.310
.438
FT%
.600
.864
RB
35
34
TO
11
10
STL
7
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
18
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
18
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
Second Half Offensive Barrage Powers MT past UTSA
2/7/2022 9:33:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Blue Raiders drilled 18 of their 28 shots in the final 20 minutes
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee men's basketball came out of the locker room firing on Monday night, drilling their first nine shots of the second half en route to making 18-of-28 in the final 20 minutes of their 84-75 victory over UTSA at the Murphy Center.
The Blue Raiders (15-7, 6-3 C-USA) shot well in all three facets of the game, making 53.7 percent of their field goals, 43.8 percent of their 3-point attempts and 19-of-22 free throw attempts to sustain their advantage through myriad runs from the Roadrunners (8-17, 1-11 C-USA). After scoring 12 points in the paint at the end of the first half, MT scored 32 of its 46 second half points inside to help keep UTSA from getting back into the game.
"I was really happy. Any time you win, you've got to enjoy the wins," head coach Nick McDevitt said. "We just told the guys not to settle for early shots. Try to get something great before you just settle for something ok. Early clock shots, you want to be great. Let's try to get something at the basket, a drive to the bucket, a post move."
DeAndre Dishman and Josh Jefferson both led the Blue Raiders with 18 points on the night, a Middle Tennessee career high for Dishman, who made both six field goals and six free throws on Monday. Jefferson also led the Blue Raiders in rebounds (six) and assists (four) while committing no turnovers.
"I felt like in the first half, we weren't as crisp as we could've been, so it felt good coming out in the second half executing," Jefferson said of MT making its first nine shots of the second half. "Whenever you can come out with the win, it's satisfying."
Donovan Sims (14 points) and Eli Lawrence (11 points) also finished the night with double digit scoring, as nine different Blue Raiders scored at least two points against the Roadrunners. Teafale Lenard Jr. had two blocks to lead MT, the fifth time in six games the freshman has blocked at least two shots.
Excellent offensive rebounding from UTSA in the form of 17 boards on the offensive glass kept UTSA from ever falling into blowout territory despite MT's sharpshooting. The Roadrunners entered Monday the No. 3 team in the nation in offensive rebounding entering the game. But excellent perimeter defense from the Blue Raiders kept UTSA from capitalizing beyond the arc, as they managed just a 9-for-29 clip from outside.
Middle Tennessee led by six points at the half, taking a 38-32 advantage into the locker room at the break. The Blue Raiders scored nine of those 38 points on the fast break, with another 11 points coming at the free throw line, as MT made 11 of its 12 attempts at the charity stripe in the game's first 20 minutes. Nine different Blue Raiders scored at least two points in the first half, led by 11 points from Josh Jefferson.
The Blue Raiders were also strong on the fast break, outscoring the Roadrunners 23-11 in such scenarios over the course of the night, none more emphatic than Eli Lawrence's steal and slam late in the second half to give MT its largest lead of the game at 19.
Middle Tennessee will be back in action on Thursday at the Murphy Center, when C-USA East Division foe Old Dominion visits Murfreesboro. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. central.
The Blue Raiders (15-7, 6-3 C-USA) shot well in all three facets of the game, making 53.7 percent of their field goals, 43.8 percent of their 3-point attempts and 19-of-22 free throw attempts to sustain their advantage through myriad runs from the Roadrunners (8-17, 1-11 C-USA). After scoring 12 points in the paint at the end of the first half, MT scored 32 of its 46 second half points inside to help keep UTSA from getting back into the game.
"I was really happy. Any time you win, you've got to enjoy the wins," head coach Nick McDevitt said. "We just told the guys not to settle for early shots. Try to get something great before you just settle for something ok. Early clock shots, you want to be great. Let's try to get something at the basket, a drive to the bucket, a post move."
DeAndre Dishman and Josh Jefferson both led the Blue Raiders with 18 points on the night, a Middle Tennessee career high for Dishman, who made both six field goals and six free throws on Monday. Jefferson also led the Blue Raiders in rebounds (six) and assists (four) while committing no turnovers.
"I felt like in the first half, we weren't as crisp as we could've been, so it felt good coming out in the second half executing," Jefferson said of MT making its first nine shots of the second half. "Whenever you can come out with the win, it's satisfying."
Donovan Sims (14 points) and Eli Lawrence (11 points) also finished the night with double digit scoring, as nine different Blue Raiders scored at least two points against the Roadrunners. Teafale Lenard Jr. had two blocks to lead MT, the fifth time in six games the freshman has blocked at least two shots.
Excellent offensive rebounding from UTSA in the form of 17 boards on the offensive glass kept UTSA from ever falling into blowout territory despite MT's sharpshooting. The Roadrunners entered Monday the No. 3 team in the nation in offensive rebounding entering the game. But excellent perimeter defense from the Blue Raiders kept UTSA from capitalizing beyond the arc, as they managed just a 9-for-29 clip from outside.
Middle Tennessee led by six points at the half, taking a 38-32 advantage into the locker room at the break. The Blue Raiders scored nine of those 38 points on the fast break, with another 11 points coming at the free throw line, as MT made 11 of its 12 attempts at the charity stripe in the game's first 20 minutes. Nine different Blue Raiders scored at least two points in the first half, led by 11 points from Josh Jefferson.
The Blue Raiders were also strong on the fast break, outscoring the Roadrunners 23-11 in such scenarios over the course of the night, none more emphatic than Eli Lawrence's steal and slam late in the second half to give MT its largest lead of the game at 19.
Middle Tennessee will be back in action on Thursday at the Murphy Center, when C-USA East Division foe Old Dominion visits Murfreesboro. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. central.
Facility tour – Stephen and Denise Smith Student-Athlete Performance Center
Wednesday, July 30
2025 Blue Raider Blitz Media Panel
Thursday, July 03
MTSU Men's Basketball Coach Nick McDevitt interview at 2025 Blue Raider Blitz
Monday, June 30
MTSU Men's Basketball Post Game Press Conference vs Chattanooga NIT 3/18/25
Tuesday, March 18
