Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Wednesday, February 21
Jacksonville, Ala.
6 PM
Middle Tennessee
68
at
76
Jacksonville State
Gamecocks outlast Blue Raiders in Jacksonville
2/21/2024 8:53:00 PM | Men's Basketball
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. — Middle Tennessee men's basketball made a late push Wednesday night but fell 76-68 to Jacksonville State at Pete Mathews Coliseum. Jared Coleman-Jones led the Blue Raiders with 19 points.
Middle Tennessee (11-16, 5-7 Conference USA) gathered three offensive rebounds after Jacob Johnson went 1-for-2 at the free throw line with 45 seconds to play, but 3-pointers by Elias King and Coleman-Jones and a jumper by Justin Bufford all missed the mark, failing to bring the Blue Raiders within three or four points.
The Gamecocks (13-14, 5-7) made 25 of 30 free throw attempts, including 17 of 21 in the second half. Second-chance points were 15-6 in favor of JSU, and points off turnovers went to the Gamecocks 7-0.
Bufford, an Alabama native, chipped in with 12 points, while King and Tre Green added 11 each. Coleman-Jones and Johnson led the Blue Raiders with seven rebounds apiece. Elias King paced MTSU with a career-high five assists.
By the Numbers
12: MTSU's 12 3-pointers made equaled their second-most in a game this season.
17: The Blue Raiders' 17 assists equaled their most in a regulation game.
19: Coleman-Jones tied his career high with 19 points.
Blue Raider Notes
Coach's Comments: Nick McDevitt
"Obviously, we were behind. I just felt like we were doing good things – 17 assists on 23 made baskets, we moved the ball well. [CUSA leading scorer] KyKy Tandy was 2-for-15 from the floor… But their second option for them [offensively] is offensive rebounds. And that's where they beat us."
Up Next
The Blue Raiders return home Saturday to take on Western Kentucky at 6:30 p.m.
Follow the Blue Raiders
Follow Middle Tennessee Men's Basketball on social media on Facebook (//MTMensBasketball), Twitter (@MT_MBB) and Instagram (@mt_mbb).
Print Friendly Version
Middle Tennessee (11-16, 5-7 Conference USA) gathered three offensive rebounds after Jacob Johnson went 1-for-2 at the free throw line with 45 seconds to play, but 3-pointers by Elias King and Coleman-Jones and a jumper by Justin Bufford all missed the mark, failing to bring the Blue Raiders within three or four points.
The Gamecocks (13-14, 5-7) made 25 of 30 free throw attempts, including 17 of 21 in the second half. Second-chance points were 15-6 in favor of JSU, and points off turnovers went to the Gamecocks 7-0.
Bufford, an Alabama native, chipped in with 12 points, while King and Tre Green added 11 each. Coleman-Jones and Johnson led the Blue Raiders with seven rebounds apiece. Elias King paced MTSU with a career-high five assists.
By the Numbers
12: MTSU's 12 3-pointers made equaled their second-most in a game this season.
17: The Blue Raiders' 17 assists equaled their most in a regulation game.
19: Coleman-Jones tied his career high with 19 points.
Blue Raider Notes
- Bufford moved into eighth place in the Blue Raider record book with 70 career blocked shots after sending away two Gamecock attempts Wednesday.
- Coleman-Jones tied a career high with two made 3-pointers, reaching that mark for the second time in three games.
- Wednesday's game was the fifth time this season the Blue Raiders finished with more assists (17) than turnovers (10) and was their second-best assist-to-turnover performance of the year.
Coach's Comments: Nick McDevitt
"Obviously, we were behind. I just felt like we were doing good things – 17 assists on 23 made baskets, we moved the ball well. [CUSA leading scorer] KyKy Tandy was 2-for-15 from the floor… But their second option for them [offensively] is offensive rebounds. And that's where they beat us."
Up Next
The Blue Raiders return home Saturday to take on Western Kentucky at 6:30 p.m.
Follow the Blue Raiders
Follow Middle Tennessee Men's Basketball on social media on Facebook (//MTMensBasketball), Twitter (@MT_MBB) and Instagram (@mt_mbb).
Print Friendly Version
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