Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Thursday, January 9
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
6:30 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
vs
Kennesaw State
Blue Raiders return home for first Glass House CUSA contests
1/8/2025 3:48:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Conference USA men's basketball play makes its 2025 appearance in the Murphy Center this weekend, when Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State make the drive to Murfreesboro to take on Middle Tennessee. The contest against Kennesaw State tips off at 6:30 p.m. Thursday and the matchup against Jacksonville State will tip at 5 p.m. Saturday. Both games can be streamed live on ESPN+ and the Blue Raider Network.
Series History
Middle Tennessee leads the all-time series over Kennesaw State, 6-0.
The last time the two teams met was in 2002, a contest that the Blue Raiders won by a score of 66-62 in the Glass House.
This will mark the first time the two have faced each other as CUSA opponents, as Kennesaw State joined the conference this season.
Blue Raider Notes
• Head Coach Nick McDevitt has 47 conference wins and is just two league victories from tying Randy Wiel for the fourth-most in program history.
• Under Coach McDevitt, the blue Raiders have consistently protected the Glass House, going 43-9 over the past three seasons, including 5-1 this season.
• The Blue Raiders rank 10th in the country in three-point percentage defense, only allowing opponents to score on 27.6 percent of their three-point shots, good for the conference lead.
• With an average of 3.67 offensive rebounds per game, Essam Mostafa is ranked 12th in the nation in offensive boards per game, first in the conference.
• Racking up eight double-doubles, Mostafa ranks first in the CUSA and sixth in the country in total double-doubles this season.
The Blue Raiders have spread their scoring efforts across the roster, with six different players leading the team in scoring in the 15 games played thus far.
• Middle Tennessee leads the conference in bench points per game, with 27.07. The bench has scored 20 or more points in all but four games this season.
• Jlynn Counter sits at 998 career points entering the contest against Kennesaw State. Once he hits 1,000, he will join Essam Mostafa as the lone two Blue Raiders to hit the millennium mark.
• With a 10-5 record thus far, the Blue Raiders are off to their best start in the Nick McDevitt era, one game better than the 2021-22 season. • The team has outscored opponents 1,170-1,066 in the opening 15 games of the 2024-25 campaign.
Owl Notes
• Kennesaw State is 9-5 on the season and has won its lone CUSA matchup, defeating Jacksonville State.
• The Owls' best win is over No. 24 Rutgers, where they defeated the Scarlett Knights 79-77 at home.
• Junior Simeon Cottle leads the Owls in scoring, averaging 18.9 points per game.
• Freshman Adrian Wooley leads KSU in assists (51), steals (18) and field goal percentage (52.1 percent).
• KSU is 1-3 on the road, with its lone road win coming at Georgia State in December.
• The Owls are sixth in the nation in rebounds per game, pulling down 43.50 per contest.
Series History
Middle Tennessee leads the all-time series over Jacksonville State, 4-2.
The Gamecocks won the last contest between the two, 76-68, in Jacksonville in February 2024.
Jacksonville State has a one-game win streak in the series.
Gamecock Notes
• Jax State is 8-6 on the season and 0-1 in conference play, though the team will face off against Western Kentucky before traveling to the Glass House.
• The Gamecocks have only been outrebounded once this season, in the 83-71 road loss to Kennesaw State last Saturday.
• Jaron Pierre Jr. leads Jax State with 22.9 points per game on 49.1 percent shooting from the field.
• Mason Nicholson owns the team lead in rebounds, pulling down 7.7 boards per contest, and in field goal percentage, averaging 61.3 percent.
• Averaging 29.64 defensive rebounds per game, the Gamecocks are seventh in the nation in d-boards per contest.
Series History
Middle Tennessee leads the all-time series over Kennesaw State, 6-0.
The last time the two teams met was in 2002, a contest that the Blue Raiders won by a score of 66-62 in the Glass House.
This will mark the first time the two have faced each other as CUSA opponents, as Kennesaw State joined the conference this season.
Blue Raider Notes
• Head Coach Nick McDevitt has 47 conference wins and is just two league victories from tying Randy Wiel for the fourth-most in program history.
• Under Coach McDevitt, the blue Raiders have consistently protected the Glass House, going 43-9 over the past three seasons, including 5-1 this season.
• The Blue Raiders rank 10th in the country in three-point percentage defense, only allowing opponents to score on 27.6 percent of their three-point shots, good for the conference lead.
• With an average of 3.67 offensive rebounds per game, Essam Mostafa is ranked 12th in the nation in offensive boards per game, first in the conference.
• Racking up eight double-doubles, Mostafa ranks first in the CUSA and sixth in the country in total double-doubles this season.
The Blue Raiders have spread their scoring efforts across the roster, with six different players leading the team in scoring in the 15 games played thus far.
• Middle Tennessee leads the conference in bench points per game, with 27.07. The bench has scored 20 or more points in all but four games this season.
• Jlynn Counter sits at 998 career points entering the contest against Kennesaw State. Once he hits 1,000, he will join Essam Mostafa as the lone two Blue Raiders to hit the millennium mark.
• With a 10-5 record thus far, the Blue Raiders are off to their best start in the Nick McDevitt era, one game better than the 2021-22 season. • The team has outscored opponents 1,170-1,066 in the opening 15 games of the 2024-25 campaign.
Owl Notes
• Kennesaw State is 9-5 on the season and has won its lone CUSA matchup, defeating Jacksonville State.
• The Owls' best win is over No. 24 Rutgers, where they defeated the Scarlett Knights 79-77 at home.
• Junior Simeon Cottle leads the Owls in scoring, averaging 18.9 points per game.
• Freshman Adrian Wooley leads KSU in assists (51), steals (18) and field goal percentage (52.1 percent).
• KSU is 1-3 on the road, with its lone road win coming at Georgia State in December.
• The Owls are sixth in the nation in rebounds per game, pulling down 43.50 per contest.
Series History
Middle Tennessee leads the all-time series over Jacksonville State, 4-2.
The Gamecocks won the last contest between the two, 76-68, in Jacksonville in February 2024.
Jacksonville State has a one-game win streak in the series.
Gamecock Notes
• Jax State is 8-6 on the season and 0-1 in conference play, though the team will face off against Western Kentucky before traveling to the Glass House.
• The Gamecocks have only been outrebounded once this season, in the 83-71 road loss to Kennesaw State last Saturday.
• Jaron Pierre Jr. leads Jax State with 22.9 points per game on 49.1 percent shooting from the field.
• Mason Nicholson owns the team lead in rebounds, pulling down 7.7 boards per contest, and in field goal percentage, averaging 61.3 percent.
• Averaging 29.64 defensive rebounds per game, the Gamecocks are seventh in the nation in d-boards per contest.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballFacility tour – Stephen and Denise Smith Student-Athlete Performance Center
Wednesday, July 30
2025 Blue Raider Blitz Media Panel
Thursday, July 03
MTSU Men's Basketball Coach Nick McDevitt interview at 2025 Blue Raider Blitz
Monday, June 30
MTSU Men's Basketball Post Game Press Conference vs Chattanooga NIT 3/18/25
Tuesday, March 18
