Men's Basketball to open league play against Kennesaw State

Wednesday, December 17

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

6:30 p.m.

Middle Tennessee

Kennesaw State

12/16/2025 4:31:00 PM | Men's Basketball

MTSU Game Notes Kennesaw State Game Notes

By: Logan Hasselbach

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Middle Tennessee men's basketball team is set to open conference play with a bout against the Kennesaw State Owls Wednesday in the Murphy Center. The contest tips off at 6:30 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+ and Blue Raider Network.

Series History
The Blue Raiders are undefeated in the all-time series versus Kennesaw State, winning all eight matchups played. At home, MTSU is 7-0, winning both games as first-time conference opponents last season.

Blue Raider Notes

After opening league play on the road last season, the Blue Raiders will begin conference play at home this season, for the first time since the 2023-24 season.
Nick McDevitt will look to win his second-straight conference opener when Kennesaw State comes to town Wednesday. MTSU is 2-5 in conference openers under McDevitt.
The Blue Raiders were voted to finish fourth in the preseason Conference USA poll after tying for second a season ago.
On the offensive end of the court, the Blue Raiders have consistently shared the wealth of the scoring, with four players averaging double-digit totals.
Jahvin Carter leads the team with 12.6 points per game, scoring 10+ in seven contests, actively boasting a three-game streak. Torey Alston is just behind him, averaging 12.1 points per game, thanks to a couple of recent breakout games.
Kamari Lands (11.7ppg) and Sean Smith (11.0ppg) are the others averaging double digits, with the guys scoring 10+ points in five and six games, respectively.
Jahvin Carter, a sophomore, leads the team with a 2.73 assist-to-turnover ration (fourth in CUSA), with Smith just behind him at 2.50 (seventh in CUSA).
MTSU's three-point percentage defense continues to thrive, ranking 30^th in the nation at just 28.6 percent.
With 1.56 blocks per game this season, Chris Loofe sits 91^st in the nation and second in Conference USA.
The Blue Raiders rank second in the conference, turning the ball over just 10.6 times per contest.
MTSU's MJ Whitlock began his collegiate career at Kennesaw State during Antoine Pettway's first season at the helm, redshirting his true freshman campaign before transferring to Cowley College.

Owl Notes

Kennesaw State is 8-2 on the season, averaging 97.2 points per game, good for the second most in Division I.
Senior guard Simeon Cottle was named CUSA Preseason Player of the Year this season and paces the Owls with 20.0 points per game, 36^th in the nation.
KSU sits first in the nation in total rebounds per game at 47.4 boards per game and sixth in rebound margin at 12.6.
Kennesaw was voted to finish second in the conference, garnering one first-place vote, in the Preseason Poll after finishing fourth last season.