Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Sunday, December 1
Birmingham, Ala.
3 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
76
at
69
UAB
Bufford's career-high propels Blue Raiders past UAB, 76-69
12/1/2024 6:29:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Middle Tennessee men's basketball team opened the month of December strong, downing UAB 76-69 at Bartow Arena Sunday afternoon.
Middle Tennessee got off to a hot start, with Jestin Porter and Camryn Weston each scoring at least five points and combining for three 3-pointers in the first four minutes to give the Blue Raiders an 11-4 lead.
They kept the momentum going, with Chris Loofe hitting an and-one basket and Porter adding a layup. The senior accounted for nine of MTSU's first 17 points, helping propel the Blue Raiders to a seven-point lead at the 11-minute mark.
The American Athletic Conference preseason favorite UAB kept applying pressure, scoring with tough finishes at the rim. However, MTSU responded with a 13-2 run late in the first half, taking a 38-28 lead into the break.
The second half saw both teams trade baskets from the paint and beyond the arc. Porter hit his fourth and fifth 3-pointers of the game within two minutes, pushing MTSU's lead to 60-47 with 10 minutes remaining.
After a scoring drought by both teams, Justin Bufford scored five consecutive points, extending MTSU's lead to 12. UAB, however, wasn't done yet, as five free throws and a layup cut the deficit to just five with four minutes to play.
The ensuing three minutes saw each team tack points onto the board, with MTSU holding a three-point lead with 50 seconds left—its smallest lead since the opening three minutes of the contest.
With the game on the line, Weston passed to Essam Mostafa, who hit a clutch midrange floater to seal the 76-69 win for the Blue Raiders.
Porter led MTSU for the fifth time this season with 18 points, while Bufford added a career-high 15. Weston and Mostafa each finished with 12 points.
By the Numbers:
Follow Middle Tennessee Men's Basketball on social media on Facebook //MTMensBasketball, Twitter (@MT_MBB) and Instagram (@mt_mbb).
Middle Tennessee got off to a hot start, with Jestin Porter and Camryn Weston each scoring at least five points and combining for three 3-pointers in the first four minutes to give the Blue Raiders an 11-4 lead.
They kept the momentum going, with Chris Loofe hitting an and-one basket and Porter adding a layup. The senior accounted for nine of MTSU's first 17 points, helping propel the Blue Raiders to a seven-point lead at the 11-minute mark.
The American Athletic Conference preseason favorite UAB kept applying pressure, scoring with tough finishes at the rim. However, MTSU responded with a 13-2 run late in the first half, taking a 38-28 lead into the break.
The second half saw both teams trade baskets from the paint and beyond the arc. Porter hit his fourth and fifth 3-pointers of the game within two minutes, pushing MTSU's lead to 60-47 with 10 minutes remaining.
After a scoring drought by both teams, Justin Bufford scored five consecutive points, extending MTSU's lead to 12. UAB, however, wasn't done yet, as five free throws and a layup cut the deficit to just five with four minutes to play.
The ensuing three minutes saw each team tack points onto the board, with MTSU holding a three-point lead with 50 seconds left—its smallest lead since the opening three minutes of the contest.
With the game on the line, Weston passed to Essam Mostafa, who hit a clutch midrange floater to seal the 76-69 win for the Blue Raiders.
Porter led MTSU for the fifth time this season with 18 points, while Bufford added a career-high 15. Weston and Mostafa each finished with 12 points.
By the Numbers:
- 15: Justin Bufford set a new career-high with 15 points.
- 5: Blue Raiders scored in double figures (Porter, Bufford, Weston, Mostafa, and Torey Alston).
- 18%: MTSU held UAB to an 18-percent shooting performance from 3-point range.
- 40: Rebounds the Blue Raiders pulled down, the third time this season the team has grabbed 40+ rebounds.
- 37: Middle Tennessee spent 37:51 minutes with the lead, only trailing by one point at most.
Follow Middle Tennessee Men's Basketball on social media on Facebook //MTMensBasketball, Twitter (@MT_MBB) and Instagram (@mt_mbb).
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