Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Monday, November 13
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
6:30 PM
Middle Tennessee
2-1,0-0CUSA
64
vs
66
Western Carolina
3-0,0-0SoCon
1
2
F
Western Caro.
37
29
66
Middle Tenn.
33
31
64
Blue Raiders drop first game of the season, falling to Catamounts 66-64
11/13/2023 10:02:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Poor shooting night too much to overcome in just third home loss in as many years for MTSU
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee men's basketball dropped just its third home game in three seasons on Monday night, failing to overcome a poor shooting night from outside and at the free throw line in a 66-64 loss to Western Carolina at the Murphy Center.
The Blue Raiders (2-1) shot just 52.1 percent from the free throw line, making 13 of their 25 attempts at the charity stripe. MTSU also shot just 3-for-13 beyond the arc on Monday. The Catamounts (3-0) were able to get into the paint at will, scoring 42 points inside. While MTSU was able to hold the visitors to 36.7 percent shooting in the second half, a late foul drawn by Vonterius Woolbright proved to be the difference, as the guard knocked down two free throws to take the lead in the closing seconds.
Elias King led the Blue Raiders with 14 points, despite a 50 percent clip (4-for-8) at the free throw line and a 25 percent clip (4-for-16) from the field. Jestin Porter was nearly the hero for MTSU, scoring their final two baskets, including the game-tying pull-up jumper, for four of his 13 points. The guard also added a team-high nine rebounds. Josh Ogundele was efficient off the bench, making three of his four shots and knocking down three free throws for nine points.
By the Numbers
12: Missed free throws on Monday for the Blue Raiders. It's the most MTSU has missed in a game since missing 15 foul shots in an 85-75 overtime win over Belmont on December 10, 2022.
3: Assists for the Blue Raiders on Monday night, all in the first half. It's the fewest assists MTSU has had in a game since they also recorded three in a 64-42 loss to Murray State on December 8, 2018.
5: Turnovers for the Catamounts. It's the fewest turnovers MTSU has forced in a game since UNC Wilmington only turned the ball over five times when the Blue Raiders defeated the Seahawks 96-90 in double overtime on March 23, 2022 during the 2022 College Basketball Invitational.
Blue Raider Notes
- Ogundele's nine points and three rebounds were career highs.
- Porter's nine rebounds were a new career high, more than doubling his previous career high of four.
- King has scored exactly 14 points in each of MTSU's first three games.
Thoughts from Head Coach Nick McDevitt
"Congratulations to Western. They've got a really good ball club. We knew that before Saturday, knowing that they have returning from last year's team. They've got three all-conference selections in the SoCon, the only team to have three reps on it."
"Coming in here, we knew that we were going to have to play well. I thought at times tonight, we did play well. We probably left about 20 points on the board between plays at the rim and missed free throws. Obviously, you're not going to make all your free throws. But we ended up 13-for-25. Shooting 52 percent from the line in close games matters. When you leave 20 at the scorer's table, you're going to have a hard time beating a team that good."
Up Next
MTSU will host Milligan from the NAIA's Appalachian Athletic Conference on Saturday at the Murphy Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. Admission is free to those with a ticket to that Saturday's home football game against UTEP.
Follow the Blue Raiders
Follow Middle Tennessee Men's Basketball on social media on Facebook (//MTMensBasketball), Twitter (@MT_MBB) and Instagram (@mt_mbb).
The Blue Raiders (2-1) shot just 52.1 percent from the free throw line, making 13 of their 25 attempts at the charity stripe. MTSU also shot just 3-for-13 beyond the arc on Monday. The Catamounts (3-0) were able to get into the paint at will, scoring 42 points inside. While MTSU was able to hold the visitors to 36.7 percent shooting in the second half, a late foul drawn by Vonterius Woolbright proved to be the difference, as the guard knocked down two free throws to take the lead in the closing seconds.
Elias King led the Blue Raiders with 14 points, despite a 50 percent clip (4-for-8) at the free throw line and a 25 percent clip (4-for-16) from the field. Jestin Porter was nearly the hero for MTSU, scoring their final two baskets, including the game-tying pull-up jumper, for four of his 13 points. The guard also added a team-high nine rebounds. Josh Ogundele was efficient off the bench, making three of his four shots and knocking down three free throws for nine points.
By the Numbers
12: Missed free throws on Monday for the Blue Raiders. It's the most MTSU has missed in a game since missing 15 foul shots in an 85-75 overtime win over Belmont on December 10, 2022.
3: Assists for the Blue Raiders on Monday night, all in the first half. It's the fewest assists MTSU has had in a game since they also recorded three in a 64-42 loss to Murray State on December 8, 2018.
5: Turnovers for the Catamounts. It's the fewest turnovers MTSU has forced in a game since UNC Wilmington only turned the ball over five times when the Blue Raiders defeated the Seahawks 96-90 in double overtime on March 23, 2022 during the 2022 College Basketball Invitational.
Blue Raider Notes
- Ogundele's nine points and three rebounds were career highs.
- Porter's nine rebounds were a new career high, more than doubling his previous career high of four.
- King has scored exactly 14 points in each of MTSU's first three games.
Thoughts from Head Coach Nick McDevitt
"Congratulations to Western. They've got a really good ball club. We knew that before Saturday, knowing that they have returning from last year's team. They've got three all-conference selections in the SoCon, the only team to have three reps on it."
"Coming in here, we knew that we were going to have to play well. I thought at times tonight, we did play well. We probably left about 20 points on the board between plays at the rim and missed free throws. Obviously, you're not going to make all your free throws. But we ended up 13-for-25. Shooting 52 percent from the line in close games matters. When you leave 20 at the scorer's table, you're going to have a hard time beating a team that good."
Up Next
MTSU will host Milligan from the NAIA's Appalachian Athletic Conference on Saturday at the Murphy Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. Admission is free to those with a ticket to that Saturday's home football game against UTEP.
Follow the Blue Raiders
Follow Middle Tennessee Men's Basketball on social media on Facebook (//MTMensBasketball), Twitter (@MT_MBB) and Instagram (@mt_mbb).
Team Stats
WCU
MTSU
FG%
.414
.414
3FG%
.200
.231
FT%
.727
.520
RB
39
40
TO
5
7
STL
3
1
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
13
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Players Mentioned
G
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F
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