Blue Raiders grind out overtime win over Lumberjacks, 67-62

Thursday, November 9

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

7 PM

Middle Tennessee

2-0,0-0CUSA

Stephen F. Austin

1-1,0-0WAC

OT 1

SFA

Middle Tenn.

11/9/2023 11:05:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Game Book Photo Gallery

MTSU trailed by as many as 12 points in their comeback win the Murphy Center

By: Sam Doughton, MT Athletics

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee men's basketball wasn't always pretty on Thursday night in the Murphy Center, but it was gritty, as the Blue Raiders found a way to pull out the come-from-behind win against Stephen F. Austin, winning 67-62 in overtime.

After trailing by as many as 12 points in the first half in the midst of a 19-1 run by their opponent, the Blue Raiders (2-0) adjusted against the Lumberjacks (1-1) aggressive, overplaying defensive scheme, finding ways to get to the basket, and the free throw line, in the second half. Trailing nearly the entire final 10 minutes, Jacob Johnson was able to break free for an open layup to tie the game 54-54 in regulation, but a stop of the defensive end was not rewarded, as Jestin Porter's buzzer beater attempt rimmed out to send the game to overtime.

MTSU kept its composure in the final five minutes, withstanding an early barrage from the Lumberjacks by taking advantage of the double bonus, making four straight free throws to take the lead, all from the hands of Jared Coleman-Jones. Johnsons hook-shot layup stretched the lead to three, before Porter's kiss off the glass stretched the lead to five, which sustained through a late lumberjack three and three MTSU free throws.

Elias King led the way on the scoresheet for the Blue Raiders, scoring 14 points, as well as in minutes, with King playing a career high 43. Justin Bufford was active with his hands, napping four steals in a game that MTSU turned SFA over 21 times. Bufford finished the night with 11 points. Johnson scored 13 points off the bench, drawing seven Lumberjack fouls and converting 7-of-10 free throws. Coleman-Jones just missed on a double-double, scoring nine points while grabbing nine rebounds in a career-high 31 minutes.

By the Numbers

10: The number of rebounds MTSU beat SFA in on the night (39-29). The Blue Raiders were particularly active on the offensive glass, grabbing 15 boards that turned into 12 second chance points.

3: MTSU's advantage in the turnover margin (21-18). This led to the Blue Raiders outscoring the Lumberjacks off of turnovers by two points, 21-19.

27: Fouls drawn by the Blue Raiders on Monday night. MTSU went to the charity stripe 33 times on Monday, making 23 of those attempts. They limited the Lumberjacks to just eight trips to the free throw line, only entering SFA into the bonus in the second half during the overtime period.

Blue Raider Notes

The Blue Raiders are 2-0 with wins against two Division I teams for the first time since 2013-14.
Thursday's game was the fourth time the Blue Raiders have erased a halftime deficit of nine or more points since the beginning of last season.
MTSU has limited opponents to 59.4 points per game in regulation over its last 33 home games, a stretch in which it has gone 31-2.
Middle Tennessee has now won five straight games that have gone to single overtime.
Justin Bufford's four steals set a new career high.

Thoughts from Head Coach Nick McDevitt

"I was really, really happy with that one. I just thought it was a toughness win. The way Stephen F. Austin guards you, they're going to kind of run you out of your stuff. They're not going to let you run your normal offense. You can kind of take most of your playbook and get rid of it for that game. You've just to be able to handle pressure and be able to pass and catch the ball. You've got to be able to handle the physicality of the game. We've played them three years in a row, and this is their biggest, deepest, toughest team. I'm sure Coach Keller loves his group because his better teams, his best teams have kind of looked like that.

"They were big and physical and I thought we stepped up and met that challenge. We talked about winning the rebounding battle and the turnover battle. Because we won both, it gave us a chance to win the game."

Player's Perspective – Jacob Johnson

"I've been to a few different schools. And having different experiences at UMKC and LIU have kind of made me understand what it's like to win and feel what it feels like to lose. When you're down, having these guys around me has been really helpful. Those other experiences have made it a lot easier to get through stuff and to come through and try and win."

Up Next

The Blue Raiders stay at home after the weekend, hosting Western Carolina from the Southern Conference on Monday, November 13. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m.

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