Blue Raiders drop second-round game to hot-shooting Ohio

Saturday, November 25

Nassau, Bahamas

12:30 PM

Middle Tennessee

3-4,0-0CUSA

Ohio

3-2,0-0MAC

Ohio

Middle Tenn.

11/25/2023 3:23:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Thomas Donley, MT Athletics

NASSAU, Bahamas — Middle Tennessee men's basketball fell to Ohio in the second round of the Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship by a score of 80-68 Saturday. The Bobcats (3-2) shot nearly 60 percent from the field while the Blue Raiders (3-4) went cold from 3-point range in the second half.

MTSU once again jumped out to an early lead, scoring the game's first six points. After a back-and-forth final minute of the first half, Ohio took a 40-38 lead into the locker room.

The Blue Raiders went 0-12 from 3-point range in the second half, hindering their attempts at a comeback, while Ohio made its first five shots from long distance to start the second half. The Bobcats were 32-54 from the field for the game, a 59.3 clip, including a 9-22 performance from long range (40.9 percent).

Jared Coleman-Jones led the Blue Raiders with 17 points and recorded a game-high eight rebounds. Elias King added 15 points, while Justin Bufford and Jestin Porter provided 11 each. Porter's four rebounds led the team.

By the Numbers

80: MTSU shot 80 percent from the free throw line, going 16-20.

13: Three Blue Raiders missed their final 13 3-pointers of the game.

.593: Ohio's .593 shooting percentage was the highest allowed by MTSU this season.

Blue Raider Notes

Coleman-Jones' 17 points and six made free throws were both career highs.
Porter tied his career high with four assists.
The Blue Raiders fell to 0-4 all-time against the Bobcats.

Thoughts from Head Coach Nick McDevitt
"We were in a little bit more of an offensive flow. I thought we were getting higher-quality shots. We just missed, I think it was, our last dozen threes… and I liked a lot of the looks. Got good looks and didn't make them, but the offensive rhythm was good. We turned the ball over too much in the first half, but the biggest difference in the game was we didn't do a good job of guarding the drivers. Too many points in the paint, and they weren't off post moves. Too many times today, we're taking the ball out of the net due to a lack of being able to just sit down and guard the guy in front of you."

Up Next

The Blue Raiders will take on Kansas City at 10 a.m. CT Sunday in the final round of the tournament.

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