MTSU tops Ohio 83-81 in overtime thriller at Myrtle Beach Invitational

Thursday, November 21

Conway, S.C.

11 A.M.

Middle Tennessee

4-1,0-0CUSA

Ohio University

1-4,0-0MAC

OT 1

Ohio

Middle Tenn.

11/21/2024 3:42:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Ohio Game Book

By: Jayce Standridge

CONWAY, S.C. — Middle Tennessee went into overtime and grabbed the first game of the Myrtle Beach Invitational against Ohio University by a score of 83-81.

The Blue Raiders and Bobcats went back and forth to start the game, with Ohio leading 14-9 in the first five minutes. MTSU then didn't allow a point for four-straight minutes, before tying the game at 18 with 9:24 left in the first half.

At halftime, MTSU led the Bobcats by one, 32-31. Jestin Porter (7 points), Kamari Lands (7 points), and Essam Mostafa (6 points) led the Blue Raiders in the first 20 minutes of the game. Tre Green, off the bench, was 2-for-2 with a clutch 3-point shot.

Heading into the second half, both teams were trading shots, but the Bobcats eventually grew their lead to seven points with an 8-0 run with 13 minutes remaining in the game. However, the Blue Raiders never gave up, battling their way back slowly but surely.

In the final two minutes of the game, MTSU was down by four with a chance to make it a one-possession game. Ohio proceeded to foul the big man, Mostafa, and sent him to the line, where he made both free throws.

MTSU got the game to within one point with a missed free throw by the Bobcats and a Mostafa layup with just a minute to go. The Blue Raiders then fouled to get into the bonus and send Ohio to the line, where the Bobcats could have put the game away.

After trading layups and fouls, MTSU found itself down by three with just 10 seconds to play. Cam Weston brought the ball down the court and found Lands coming from the key to shoot the game-tying 3-point shot to send the game into overtime, tied 75-75.

In overtime, a free throw by Porter and a layup by Mostafa gave MTSU a quick three-point lead. However, after four straight free throws by the Bobcats, Ohio took the lead again with two minutes to go. That was until Jestin Porter hit a step-back 3-pointer in the face of a defender to put the game under control for the Raiders.

After playing the foul game, Ohio was down 83-81 with 2.5 seconds left and had a chance to tie or hit the game-winning 3. They drew up a play to get a 3-point shot off, and they did — but the shot was no good.

Middle Tennessee won the game 83-81 to advance to the semifinals tomorrow at 1 p.m. CT. The Blue Raiders will face the winner of the Portland-South Florida game.

Jestin Porter led the scoring with 24 points, and Essam Mostafa was not far behind with 19 points and 13 rebounds for his third double-double of the season.

Jlynn Counter also had his first start as a Blue Raider, tallying eight points in 22 minutes of action.

By the Numbers
11: Blue Raiders saw their way to the court today.
24: Jestin Porter ties his season-high points in a game.
3: double-doubles this season for Essam Mostafa after his 19 point, 13 rebound game.

McDevitt's Mic
"I'm really proud of our team and I'm not just happy with the win, but also with the way we won," said head coach Nick McDevitt. "I thought we were tough, particularly in the right way and in the right moments. We were behind for most of the game and I just didn't think we showed panic, even when we were down 5, 6, 7 points at times. Late in the game, we were down three with plenty of time to get multiple possessions, we didn't settle for bad threes which all of the sudden would end the game. I just didn't think we didn't have a ton of mental errors, which kept them from racing at us after made baskets."

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