Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Sunday, November 24
Conway, S.C.
4:30 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
5-2,0-0CUSA
69
vs
80
Bradley
6-1,0-0MVC
1
2
F
Middle Tenn.
37
32
69
Bradley
39
41
80
Blue Raiders fall in Myrtle Beach Invitational final, 80-69
11/24/2024 8:13:00 PM | Men's Basketball
CONWAY, S.C. — After a dominant run in the Myrtle Beach Invitational, the Middle Tennessee men's basketball team fell in the championship game to Bradley, 80-69, Sunday evening.
Middle Tennessee quickly jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first half, but the Braves, voted the preseason favorite in the Missouri Valley Conference, responded with five three-pointers in the first seven minutes of the game. The Blue Raiders found themselves trailing by as much as eight early, but didn't let it affect their play.
Chris Loofe and Jestin Porter led MTSU's charge back, narrowing the gap to 39-37 by halftime. Loofe scored 11 points in just nine minutes of action, his most ever in a half of basketball. Porter added nine points on two three-pointers and a layup, while Justin Bufford and Essam Mostafa chipped in with seven and six points, respectively.
To start the second half, the Braves extended their lead after more hot shooting, going up 59-46 with 12:16 remaining in the game. However, the resilient Raiders mounted another run, with Torey Alston, Tre Green, and Mostafa scoring key buckets to trim the deficit to five.
Bradley, however, kept making shots and eventually sealed the win with a lead that proved insurmountable, claiming the Myrtle Beach Invitational championship, 80-69. Loofe led the Blue Raiders with 15 points, followed by Mostafa with 12 and Bufford with 11.
By the Numbers:
15: Points scored by Chris Loofe, a career high.
40: Minutes played by Justin Bufford for the second consecutive game.
40: Points in the paint by the Blue Raiders.
6: Turnovers committed by the Blue Raiders, the lowest number of any game this season.
Follow the Blue Raiders
Follow Middle Tennessee Men's Basketball on social media on Facebook //MTMensBasketball, Twitter (@MT_MBB) and Instagram (@mt_mbb).
Middle Tennessee quickly jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first half, but the Braves, voted the preseason favorite in the Missouri Valley Conference, responded with five three-pointers in the first seven minutes of the game. The Blue Raiders found themselves trailing by as much as eight early, but didn't let it affect their play.
Chris Loofe and Jestin Porter led MTSU's charge back, narrowing the gap to 39-37 by halftime. Loofe scored 11 points in just nine minutes of action, his most ever in a half of basketball. Porter added nine points on two three-pointers and a layup, while Justin Bufford and Essam Mostafa chipped in with seven and six points, respectively.
To start the second half, the Braves extended their lead after more hot shooting, going up 59-46 with 12:16 remaining in the game. However, the resilient Raiders mounted another run, with Torey Alston, Tre Green, and Mostafa scoring key buckets to trim the deficit to five.
Bradley, however, kept making shots and eventually sealed the win with a lead that proved insurmountable, claiming the Myrtle Beach Invitational championship, 80-69. Loofe led the Blue Raiders with 15 points, followed by Mostafa with 12 and Bufford with 11.
By the Numbers:
15: Points scored by Chris Loofe, a career high.
40: Minutes played by Justin Bufford for the second consecutive game.
40: Points in the paint by the Blue Raiders.
6: Turnovers committed by the Blue Raiders, the lowest number of any game this season.
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
BRAD
FG%
.400
.500
3FG%
.231
.455
FT%
.688
1.000
RB
33
36
TO
6
9
STL
6
3
Game Leaders
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
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