Blue Raiders roll over Reinhardt in final non-conference tune-up

Wednesday, January 3

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

6:30 PM

Middle Tennessee

6-9,0-0CUSA

Reinhardt

0-3

Reinhardt

Middle Tenn.

1/3/2024 9:46:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

First half runs of 14 points and 13 points powered MTSU to a dominant win over NAIA foe

By: Sam Doughton, MT Athletics

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee men's basketball jumped out to an early lead and kept piling up its advantage on Wednesday night, sustaining multiple, massive first half runs to power past visiting Reinhardt 84-47 at the Murphy Center.

The Blue Raiders (6-9) had runs of 14 points and 13 points in the first half, holding the Eagles (5-8) scoreless for over four minutes during each run, allowing MTSU to lead by as many as 32 points in the first half before a mini-run cut the Blue Raiders' lead to just 26-points, 47-21, at halftime. MTSU shot 54.5 percent from the floor in the game's first 20 minutes, while holding Reinhardt to just seven field goals in the first half.

The Eagles were able to match MTSU's energy out of the locker room in the second half, but a 17-0 run starting with a Tre Green three-pointer with 9:15 silenced any lingering doubts, allowing Nick McDevitt to empty the bench in the closing minutes after the Blue Raiders led by as many as 46 points.

Five Blue Raiders scored in double figures against the NAIA foe, led by 15 points from Jalen Jordan, who made his first four shots from the floor to start a night where he also led the team with five assists. Justin Bufford scored 12 points in his return to the starting lineup while grabbing a team-high four steals. Chris Loofe led the Blue Raiders off the bench with 12 points of his own, snagging a team-high nine rebounds in just 19 minutes. Jestin Porter (11 points, three assists) and Jared Coleman-Jones (10 points, eight rebounds, three blocks) rounded out the double digit scorers for MTSU.

By the Numbers

17: Assists for MTSU on Wednesday, a season-high for the Blue Raiders. It's the most assists in a game for MTSU since the Blue Raiders dished out 18 assists in a 93-89 loss at Western Kentucky on February 9, 2023.

12: Steals for the Blue Raiders on Wednesday, a new season-high for the team. MTSU had 13 steals in a game twice last season, most recently in an 82-74 loss to FIU on January 28, 2023.

31: Points off turnovers for MTSU, who turned over the Eagles 22 times on Wednesday.

Blue Raider Notes

MTSU's 17 assists and 12 steals were both season highs.
The Blue Raiders won their first game of the calendar year for the first time since 2018.
Middle Tennessee had three players tie or surpass season highs in points (Chris Loofe, Tre Green and Jack Jubenville), two do so in rebounds (Loofe and Ty Mosley), two in assists (Green and Jalen Jordan), two in blocks (Jared Coleman-Jones, Jestin Porter) and four in steals (Loofe, Green, Justin Bufford and Jacob Johnson).

Thoughts from Head Coach Nick McDevitt

"I was really happy with obviously the win, but I thought our team's preparation over the last couple of days was from a maturity standpoint what you wanted to see. I thought our guys respected our opponent, Reinhardt, tonight and came out ready to play. They practiced the right way the past couple of days, clearly soaked in the scout and did a nice job tonight."

Player's Perspective – Justin Bufford

On preparing for Conference USA play

"Conference play is all about being disciplined and getting better every day. If we just take the mindset of 'nobody's going to deny us' and just keep being consistent, I believe in conference play, we'll come out pretty good."

Up Next

The Blue Raiders will have just over a week off before their next matchup, opening up CUSA play against LA Tech next Thursday in the Glass House. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT, with TV coverage on CBS Sports Network.

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