MTSU defeats USF 95-88 to reach Myrtle Beach Invitational Final

Friday, November 22

Conway, S.C.

1 p.m.

Middle Tennessee

5-1,0-0CUSA

South Florida

3-3,0-0AAC

Middle Tenn.

South Fla.

11/22/2024 5:09:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Jayce Standridge

CONWAY, S.C. — A dominant first half lifted the Middle Tennessee men's basketball program over South Florida Friday afternoon, 95-88, to advance to the Myrtle Beach Invitational Championship.

The Blue Raiders started strong, forcing seven turnovers in the first eight minutes, which turned into easy points on the other end. Everything was going right for MTSU, with seven different Raiders scoring in the first nine minutes. Jestin Porter, Kamari Lands, Camryn Weston, and Justin Bufford each hit 3-pointers to put MTSU up 24-13 at the 11-minute mark.

MTSU finished the first half with 51 points, shooting 57% from the field and 8-of-16 from 3-point range. Porter led the scoring with 14 points, followed by Bufford and Lands with nine apiece. However, defense was the primary focus for the Raiders, forcing 11 turnovers and limiting South Florida to just one player scoring more than five points in the half. MTSU entered the break with a 51-33 lead.

The second half began shakily for MTSU, with the Bulls cutting the lead to just three points with 10 minutes remaining. South Florida made it a close game, but the Blue Raiders held strong, making key shots down the stretch.

Essam Mostafa and Porter carried the team in the second half, with Mostafa scoring 14 points and grabbing five rebounds to finish with 20 points and 10 rebounds — his fourth double-double of the season. Porter scored 12 points in the second half, finishing with a season-high 26 points.

Bufford played arguably his best game of the season, competing in all 40 minutes of action. The senior earned his first double-digit scoring performance of the season, and his presence was felt up and down the court. Going 2-for-3 from deep, he brought down the second-most boards of anyone on the Blue Raiders, while also assisting in key pressure moments, forcing numerous Bull turnovers.

The Blue Raiders had the best shooting average of the season on both the floor and from deep, making 34 of 59 shots from the field for a 57.6 percent field goal average, as well as going 52.2 percent from three, completing 12 of 23 shots from beyond the arc.

Middle Tennessee won the semifinal, 95-88, to advance to the Myrtle Beach Invitational Championship game, which will take place Sunday, Nov. 24, at 4:30 p.m. CT on ESPN. The Blue Raiders will play the winner of the Bradley vs. Wright State game.

By the Numbers:
26: Points is Jestin Porter's season-high in a game.
51: Points is the fourth time in the McDevitt era the Blue Raiders have scored at least 50 in the first half.
12: Total 3-pointers in the game, the most in a game this season.
4: Double-doubles this season for Essam Mostafa after his 20-point, 10-rebound performance.

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