Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
7-5,1-0CUSA
Houston
12-1,0-0Big 12
Men's Hoops falls short at No. 8 Houston, 69-60
12/29/2025 10:32:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON, Texas – Middle Tennessee Men's Basketball (7-5) came up short against eighth-ranked Houston (12-1) Monday night in the Fertitta Center by a final score of 69-60. Despite a late push from the Blue Raiders, they were unable to overcome the flurry of runs the Cougars went on in the second half.
Chris Loofe struck first for the Blue Raiders, followed by a two-pointer from Sean Smith to put Middle Tennessee on top 5-4. The first half continued to be a back-and-forth battle between the Blue Raiders and the Cougars, with 10 lead changes and three ties. At the 7:18 minute mark, Houston began a 10-point scoring run; the Blue Raiders proceeded to score on four straight offensive possessions in response, capped off by a big two-point play off the glass from Loofe to bring Middle Tennessee within two points.
The Blue Raiders headed into the locker room trailing 33-28 at halftime, holding Houston to its lowest scoring first half this season, tied with an early season contest to Towson. Loofe stood as the only player in double-figure scoring through the half with 10 points, Alec Oglesby right behind him with nine points, shooting 3-5 from deep.
Middle Tennessee began the second half with a Kamari Lands layup, followed by a three-pointer from Smith to bring the Blue Raiders within three. After a four-point Cougar scoring run, Lands caught fire from deep and went on to score back-to-back three-pointers, keeping Middle Tennessee within five points.
The Blue Raiders trailed by nine with 10:00 minutes left on the clock, but the gap grew to 16 points at its largest. Middle Tennessee continued to work, Lands and Oglesby draining three-straight from beyond the arc to bring the Blue Raiders back within nine, ultimately falling to the Cougars by the single-digit deficit.
Middle Tennessee was more accurate from the field, outshooting the Cougars 47 percent to 41 percent. Four Blue Raiders finished the game with double-digit points, Lands leading all players in the game with 18. Middle Tennessee also bested Houston on the glass, Torey Alston doubling up the next highest rebounding player in the game with 12 total rebounds.
By the Numbers
33: Middle Tennessee held Houston to just 33 points in the first half, tying the lowest first half offensive total from the Cougars all season.
10: The Blue Raiders held the Cougars 10 points beneath their season average offensive production.
5: Torey Alston had his fifth career double-double against the eighth-ranked Cougars, totaling 10 points and 12 rebounds.
