Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
NOTEBOOK: Basketball preps for Rivalry Week with Western Kentucky
1/13/2025 5:52:00 PM | General, Men's Basketball, Men's Cross Country and Track & Field, Women's Basketball, Women's Cross Country and Track & Field, Track & Field/Cross Country
Tennis season starts for both programs, starting with the men at home against the Vols! Two Track & Field Athletes set program records in Nashville.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — It was a dominant evening on a chilly Middle Tennessee night for Blue Raider Men's Basketball, who romped to an 81-64 victory over Jacksonville State to complete the CUSA sweep last week.
Jestin Porter, who averaged 28 points a game while shooting 48 percent from the floor and 43 percent beyond the arc this week in wins over the Gamecocks and Kennesaw State, was named CUSA Player of the Week for the second time this season.
The Blue Raiders sit at second in the conference standings at 3-1 after the first two weekends of CUSA play, with conference leader New Mexico State having played one fewer game than MTSU. Ahead of this weekend's clash against rival Western Kentucky, both Head Coach Nick McDevitt and Porter advocated for Blue Raider fans to invite their friends to continue to make the Glass House a hostile environment for road teams. Saturday's game against the Hilltoppers is set for 6 p.m.
Women's Basketball romps on the road ahead of trip to Bowling Green
The Conference USA streak stretched out to 33 straight wins for Middle Tennessee women's basketball, as the Blue Raiders cruised on the road over Kennesaw State on Thursday and Jacksonville State on Saturday. Fighting the elements while traveling over the weekend, MTSU rode back-to-back double-doubles from Ta'Mia Scott and back-to-back 20+ point games from Anastasiia Boldyreva to continue the program's presence atop the CUSA standings.
The timing of this week's games with WKU is opportune for those who are ambitious enough to make the drive up I-65 to make BOTH men's and women's games this week. WKU's women will host MTSU at 2 p.m. in Bowling Green, giving fans just enough time to drive back to Murfreesboro to make the 6 p.m. tipoff at both arenas.
I'll be attending both games on the same day for the first time in my tenure at MTSU and could not be more excited for it! I hope to see many of you at both venues this weekend.
Men's Tennis hosts Tennessee at the ATC to kickoff spring season
But first, make sure to come out to the Adams Tennis Complex on Old Fort Parkway this Thursday at 5 p.m., where MTSU Men's Tennis will kick off the spring season in 2025 with a match against Tennessee. The Volunteers start the season ranked No. 13 in the ITA poll, while the Blue Raiders are coming off their fifth-straight CUSA title and third straight season making the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament.
"This 2025 Spring schedule is likely our strongest one yet during my tenure," head coach Jimmy Borendame said when the spring schedule was released this fall. "We will be tested both at home and on the road. We are always fortunate to have our great crowds at both the Adams Tennis Complex and the Buck Bouldin Courts on campus."
The Men's Tennis team will also host Lipscomb and UT Southern at the ATC on Saturday, with the match against the Bison scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
Women's Tennis hits the road to Florida to start 2025
Blue Raider Women's Tennis also starts its season this week, heading to Fort Meyers, Fla. to take on Florida Gulf Coast and Minnesota to start the 2025 spring slate. Their first home match is scheduled for next Friday, January 24, when MTSU will welcome Louisville to Murfreesboro.
Two Blue Raiders break school records at the Commodore Challenge
Two Blue Raider Track and Field Athletes set new school records at Vanderbilt University over the weekend, while four Blue Raiders were honored as Athletes of the Week by the Conference USA off last week.
Wail Bourahli set a new program record in the Men's 600m with a time of 1:17.78 seconds. He broke his own record from 2023 where he ran a 1:18.52 time. Privillege Chikara, meanwhile, set a new school record in the Women's 1000m with a time of 2:50.32 seconds.
Bridgett Annan, John Sherman, Jason Smallwood and Viktoria Rusnakova were named CUSA Athletes of their week for their performances at the Ed Temple Classic earlier this month.
Bridgett Annan was named Conference USA Women's Track Athlete of the Week after taking home first place in the Women's 400 meter with a time of 57.65 seconds, a new personal record. Annan also finished fourth in the Women's 200 meter with a time of 26.11 seconds.
John Sherman won the CUSA Men's Track Athlete of the Week while continuing the spectacular start to his collegiate career with a second-place finish in the Men's 55-meter dash. Sherman recorded a time of 6.32 seconds.
Jason Smallwood was named the CUSA Men's Field Athlete of the Week and the Men's Freshman of the Week by getting second place in the Men's Long Jump with a score of 7.01 meters at the Ed Temple Classic.
The Conference USA Women's Field Athlete of the Week was Viktoria Rusnakova after finishing in third place in the Women's Triple Jump with a score of 11.58 meters. Rusnakova also finished fourth in the Women's Long Jump with a score of 5.45 meters.
"Blue Bloods in the Round®" set for Feb. 13 at Nearest Green Distillery
Derek Mason, head football coach at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), Chris Massaro, director of athletics at MTSU and ALC announce the "Blue Bloods Songwriters in the Round®" show at Humble Baron (touting the World's Longest Bar) at Nearest Green Distillery (3125 US-231, Shelbyville, TN) on February 13, 2025, from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. CT.
"This first-of-its-kind event celebrates some of the "blue blood" music nobility that MTSU has fostered along with the new athletic department endeavors to revenue-share with their athletes," said Mason.
Check out more details on the artists featured in the event as well as the event as a whole below!
Host of Blue Raider football players honored by Phil Steele
🎥 there's just something about home dubs pic.twitter.com/biPSsCby87
— Middle Tennessee Men's Basketball (@MT_MBB) January 13, 2025
Jestin Porter, who averaged 28 points a game while shooting 48 percent from the floor and 43 percent beyond the arc this week in wins over the Gamecocks and Kennesaw State, was named CUSA Player of the Week for the second time this season.
no doubt about it, jp is your cusa player of the week 🤝 pic.twitter.com/dWFLS3Tfcl
— Middle Tennessee Men's Basketball (@MT_MBB) January 13, 2025
The Blue Raiders sit at second in the conference standings at 3-1 after the first two weekends of CUSA play, with conference leader New Mexico State having played one fewer game than MTSU. Ahead of this weekend's clash against rival Western Kentucky, both Head Coach Nick McDevitt and Porter advocated for Blue Raider fans to invite their friends to continue to make the Glass House a hostile environment for road teams. Saturday's game against the Hilltoppers is set for 6 p.m.
YOU KNOW WHO WE GOT NEXT!!!! pic.twitter.com/9yz1ze68Se
— The Blue Zoo (@MTBlueZoo) January 12, 2025
Women's Basketball romps on the road ahead of trip to Bowling Green
The Conference USA streak stretched out to 33 straight wins for Middle Tennessee women's basketball, as the Blue Raiders cruised on the road over Kennesaw State on Thursday and Jacksonville State on Saturday. Fighting the elements while traveling over the weekend, MTSU rode back-to-back double-doubles from Ta'Mia Scott and back-to-back 20+ point games from Anastasiia Boldyreva to continue the program's presence atop the CUSA standings.
Back ✌️ Back double-doubles for @TamiaScott2022!
— Middle Tennessee Women's Basketball (@MT_WBB) January 12, 2025
18 Points
11 Rebounds
3 Assists
3 Blocks#TrueBlue | #Team50 pic.twitter.com/bw1RBuBY9y
Another day, another dominant performance by Nas! 👊
— Middle Tennessee Women's Basketball (@MT_WBB) January 12, 2025
21 Points
13 Rebounds
6 Blocks#TrueBlue | #Team50 pic.twitter.com/qyUrUTqZvz
The timing of this week's games with WKU is opportune for those who are ambitious enough to make the drive up I-65 to make BOTH men's and women's games this week. WKU's women will host MTSU at 2 p.m. in Bowling Green, giving fans just enough time to drive back to Murfreesboro to make the 6 p.m. tipoff at both arenas.
I'll be attending both games on the same day for the first time in my tenure at MTSU and could not be more excited for it! I hope to see many of you at both venues this weekend.
Men's Tennis hosts Tennessee at the ATC to kickoff spring season
But first, make sure to come out to the Adams Tennis Complex on Old Fort Parkway this Thursday at 5 p.m., where MTSU Men's Tennis will kick off the spring season in 2025 with a match against Tennessee. The Volunteers start the season ranked No. 13 in the ITA poll, while the Blue Raiders are coming off their fifth-straight CUSA title and third straight season making the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament.
One week until tennis is back in the 'Boro! 🎾⚡️
— Middle Tennessee Men's Tennis (@MT_MensTennis) January 9, 2025
The Blue Raiders take on the Tennessee Volunteers on Jan.16 at 5 p.m. at the Adams Tennis Complex.#BLUEnited | #WEUNITE16 pic.twitter.com/nkXoxx0QZV
"This 2025 Spring schedule is likely our strongest one yet during my tenure," head coach Jimmy Borendame said when the spring schedule was released this fall. "We will be tested both at home and on the road. We are always fortunate to have our great crowds at both the Adams Tennis Complex and the Buck Bouldin Courts on campus."
The Men's Tennis team will also host Lipscomb and UT Southern at the ATC on Saturday, with the match against the Bison scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
Don't forget to sign up for the 2025 Middle Tennessee Ball Kid Program ⤵️
— Middle Tennessee Men's Tennis (@MT_MensTennis) January 6, 2025
🔗: https://t.co/VA8D1Wiji7#BLUEnited | #WEUNITE16 pic.twitter.com/GpsbzcM59h
Women's Tennis hits the road to Florida to start 2025
Blue Raider Women's Tennis also starts its season this week, heading to Fort Meyers, Fla. to take on Florida Gulf Coast and Minnesota to start the 2025 spring slate. Their first home match is scheduled for next Friday, January 24, when MTSU will welcome Louisville to Murfreesboro.
One week until the 2025 season begins! 🎾⚡️
— Middle Tennessee Women's Tennis (@MT_WomensTennis) January 10, 2025
The Blue Raiders take on Florida Gulf Coast in the season opener in Fort Myers, Fla. on Jan. 17th.#BLUEnited pic.twitter.com/W67Qq4VWRP
Two Blue Raiders break school records at the Commodore Challenge
Two Blue Raider Track and Field Athletes set new school records at Vanderbilt University over the weekend, while four Blue Raiders were honored as Athletes of the Week by the Conference USA off last week.
Wail Bourahli set a new program record in the Men's 600m with a time of 1:17.78 seconds. He broke his own record from 2023 where he ran a 1:18.52 time. Privillege Chikara, meanwhile, set a new school record in the Women's 1000m with a time of 2:50.32 seconds.
Bridgett Annan, John Sherman, Jason Smallwood and Viktoria Rusnakova were named CUSA Athletes of their week for their performances at the Ed Temple Classic earlier this month.
Bridgett Annan was named Conference USA Women's Track Athlete of the Week after taking home first place in the Women's 400 meter with a time of 57.65 seconds, a new personal record. Annan also finished fourth in the Women's 200 meter with a time of 26.11 seconds.
— Middle Tennessee XC/Track & Field (@MT_TrackField) January 7, 2025
John Sherman won the CUSA Men's Track Athlete of the Week while continuing the spectacular start to his collegiate career with a second-place finish in the Men's 55-meter dash. Sherman recorded a time of 6.32 seconds.
Congrats to our 4️⃣ Blue Raiders on being named @ConferenceUSA Athlete's of the Week! 💪#BLUEnited pic.twitter.com/AmGRG16o93
— Middle Tennessee XC/Track & Field (@MT_TrackField) January 7, 2025
Jason Smallwood was named the CUSA Men's Field Athlete of the Week and the Men's Freshman of the Week by getting second place in the Men's Long Jump with a score of 7.01 meters at the Ed Temple Classic.
— Middle Tennessee XC/Track & Field (@MT_TrackField) January 7, 2025
The Conference USA Women's Field Athlete of the Week was Viktoria Rusnakova after finishing in third place in the Women's Triple Jump with a score of 11.58 meters. Rusnakova also finished fourth in the Women's Long Jump with a score of 5.45 meters.
— Middle Tennessee XC/Track & Field (@MT_TrackField) January 7, 2025
"Blue Bloods in the Round®" set for Feb. 13 at Nearest Green Distillery
Derek Mason, head football coach at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), Chris Massaro, director of athletics at MTSU and ALC announce the "Blue Bloods Songwriters in the Round®" show at Humble Baron (touting the World's Longest Bar) at Nearest Green Distillery (3125 US-231, Shelbyville, TN) on February 13, 2025, from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. CT.
"This first-of-its-kind event celebrates some of the "blue blood" music nobility that MTSU has fostered along with the new athletic department endeavors to revenue-share with their athletes," said Mason.
Check out more details on the artists featured in the event as well as the event as a whole below!
Join the Blue Raiders for "Blue Bloods in the Round®" at Nearest Green Distillery on February 13! Tickets are on sale now! 🎸
— Middle Tennessee Football (@MT_FB) January 11, 2025
📰 Details: https://t.co/fHcVKOowMA
🎟️ Tickets: https://t.co/EL7eymJauk pic.twitter.com/BZoYFsaQJJ
Host of Blue Raider football players honored by Phil Steele
.@iamholdenwillis and @BrodyButler3 featured as First Team on the @philsteele042 postseason All-CUSA honors.#BoroBuiltMiddleMade pic.twitter.com/FdEKp8621g
— Middle Tennessee Football (@MT_FB) January 11, 2025
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Women's Cross Country and Track & Field
C
/ Women's Basketball
Mid-Distance
/ Men's Cross Country and Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Cross Country and Track & Field
G
/ Men's Basketball
Jumps
/ Women's Cross Country and Track & Field
G
/ Women's Basketball
Sprinter
/ Men's Cross Country and Track & Field
/ Men's Cross Country and Track & Field
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