Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Saturday, March 4
El Paso, Texas
1 PM
Middle Tennessee
-1813,119 CUSA
65
at
77
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UTEP
-1417,713 CUSA
1
2
F
Middle Tenn.
32
33
65
UTEP
39
38
77
Regular season ends with loss at UTEP
3/4/2023 3:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball
EL PASO, Texas — Middle Tennessee men's basketball wrapped up its regular season with a 77-65 loss at UTEP on Saturday. A 15-2 burst early in the first half propelled the Miners into a lead they would not relinquish.
The Blue Raiders (18-13, 11-9 Conference USA) took an early lead, but it did not last long. UTEP (14-17, 7-13) shot 60 percent (15-25) from the floor and 67 percent (6-9) from 3-point range in the first half to take a 39-32 lead into the locker room.
The Miners spent the first 10 minutes of the second half just as hot from the floor, going 8-for12 from the floor and 2-for-2 from long range and 4-for-4 from the free throw line. The Blue Raiders held UTEP to 4 of its last 15 field goal attempts, but they were unable to capitalize. MTSU cut what had been a 17-point deficit down to nine on two separate occasions, but that was as close as it would come.
Elias King led the Blue Raiders with 13 points. DeAndre Dishman's seven rebounds and four assists were both team highs.
By the Numbers
19: Each team had 19 turnovers. UTEP scored 21 points off turnovers to the Blue Raiders' 18.
10-for-19: The Blue Raiders' performance from the free throw line.
11-for-19: MTSU's efficiency on layup attempts.
Blue Raider Notes
Thoughts from Head Coach Nick McDevitt
"We weren't playing for seeding [in the conference tournament] today, and at times it looked like it. I just thought there was a sense of urgency and toughness by UTEP... they're playing for seeding and momentum; you want to win your home games. And I thought we looked like a group just playing a game. And that was really the difference. I just thought that they were tough around the basket, making 'tough twos,' and, clearly, we just missed a bunch right at the basket."
Up Next
Middle Tennessee starts the postseason Thursday. Tipoff in the quarterfinal round against Charlotte from The Star in Frisco, Texas, is set for 6 p.m. CT. The winner takes on the winner of No. 1 seed Florida Atlantic and the winner of the 8 vs 9 seed opening round game.
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 (18-13, 11-9 Conference USA) took an early lead, but it did not last long. UTEP (14-17, 7-13) shot 60 percent (15-25) from the floor and 67 percent (6-9) from 3-point range in the first half to take a 39-32 lead into the locker room.
The Miners spent the first 10 minutes of the second half just as hot from the floor, going 8-for12 from the floor and 2-for-2 from long range and 4-for-4 from the free throw line. The Blue Raiders held UTEP to 4 of its last 15 field goal attempts, but they were unable to capitalize. MTSU cut what had been a 17-point deficit down to nine on two separate occasions, but that was as close as it would come.
Elias King led the Blue Raiders with 13 points. DeAndre Dishman's seven rebounds and four assists were both team highs.
By the Numbers
19: Each team had 19 turnovers. UTEP scored 21 points off turnovers to the Blue Raiders' 18.
10-for-19: The Blue Raiders' performance from the free throw line.
11-for-19: MTSU's efficiency on layup attempts.
Blue Raider Notes
- The Blue Raiders entered the game officially locked into the No. 4 seed in the C-USA Championship. MTSU will play Charlotte in its quarterfinal game at 6 p.m. Thursday on Court B at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
- Justin Bufford was one point shy of tying his career high.
- Bufford (+1), Camryn Weston (+2) and TreVon Smith (+8) were the only Blue Raiders with positive plus-minus figures Saturday.
Thoughts from Head Coach Nick McDevitt
"We weren't playing for seeding [in the conference tournament] today, and at times it looked like it. I just thought there was a sense of urgency and toughness by UTEP... they're playing for seeding and momentum; you want to win your home games. And I thought we looked like a group just playing a game. And that was really the difference. I just thought that they were tough around the basket, making 'tough twos,' and, clearly, we just missed a bunch right at the basket."
Up Next
Middle Tennessee starts the postseason Thursday. Tipoff in the quarterfinal round against Charlotte from The Star in Frisco, Texas, is set for 6 p.m. CT. The winner takes on the winner of No. 1 seed Florida Atlantic and the winner of the 8 vs 9 seed opening round game.
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
MTSU
UTEP
FG%
.429
.519
3FG%
.318
.533
FT%
.526
.833
RB
33
32
TO
19
19
STL
10
11
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
13
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
8
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
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