Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Thursday, February 20
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
8 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
vs
LA Tech
Blue Raiders set to play LA Tech, Sam Houston at home
2/19/2025 6:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Following a two-week road stand, the Middle Tennessee men's basketball team is back in the Murphy Center this week to face LA Tech on Thursday and Sam Houston Saturday. The matchup with the Bulldogs will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network starting at 8 p.m., while the Saturday contest against the Bearkats will be on ESPN+ at 2 p.m.
Series History
LA Tech leads the all-time series record 16-8.
The Bulldogs won the last meeting in Ruston, LA., 75-69 on January 25.
Blue Raider Notes
• Nick McDevitt has officially entered the 100-wins club, becoming just the fourth coach in program history to eclipse the milestone.
• Justin Bufford currently sits at sixth in program history with 89 career blocks.
• Camryn Weston is on the hunt for 1,000 career points, amassing 981 so far in his collegiate journey.
• Middle Tennessee is averaging 76.2 points per game this season after averaging a league low 65.7 last season. The 10.5 point increase is the largest of any CUSA team and the 11th largest in DI.
• In the game against Western Kentucky, three Blue Raiders scored 20+ points, marking the first time since January 2020 that three have scored 20+ in the same game.
• The Blue Raiders rank 18th in the country in three-point percentage defense, only allowing opponents to score on 29.6 percent of their three-point shots.
• With an average of 3.33 offensive rebounds per game, Essam Mostafa is ranked 22nd in the nation, first in the conference.
• Shooting an average field goal percentage of 60.2 percent, Mostafa ranks 16th in the country.
• With an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.43, Jlynn Counter sits 54th in the nation and third in the league.
• In the latest NCAA NET rankings, Middle Tennessee sits at 102, the second-highest CUSA team in the rankings.
• MT is 8-2 in the Glass House this season.
• With 19 dunks so far this season, Torey Alston ranks T-7th in program history, with data dating back to 2016-17.
• The Blue Raiders have outscored opponents 1906-1774 in the opening 25 games of the 2024-25 campaign.
Bulldog Notes
• Kaden Cooper returned to the starting lineup Saturday and recorded eight points and 13 rebounds, tying his career high.
• Sean Newman Jr. ranks top three in the country in both total assists (217) and assists per game (8.3).
• Daniel Batcho has scored 19+ points 13 times this season and ranks second in the nation in field goal percentage, shooting 69.0 percent.
• Amaree Abram has scored in double figures 18 times this season and has scored 16+ in three of his last five games.
Series History
Sam Houston leads the all-time series 2-1.
The Blue Raiders won the last meeting in Huntsville, Texas 77-75.
Bearkat Notes
• After a rough start to conference play, the Bearkats downed both Kennesaw State and league-leading Jacksonville State last week at home.
• Lamar Wilkerson won CUSA Player of the Week after averaging 27 points and 4.5 rebounds. Wilkerson is also the second leading scorer in CUSA at 19.7 points per game.
• Wilkerson was named the College Insider Lou Henson National Mid-Major Player of the Week after his performance last week.
• Sam Houston's back-to-back wins last week marked the first time the Bearkats have won two games in a row in CUSA play this season.
Series History
LA Tech leads the all-time series record 16-8.
The Bulldogs won the last meeting in Ruston, LA., 75-69 on January 25.
Blue Raider Notes
• Nick McDevitt has officially entered the 100-wins club, becoming just the fourth coach in program history to eclipse the milestone.
• Justin Bufford currently sits at sixth in program history with 89 career blocks.
• Camryn Weston is on the hunt for 1,000 career points, amassing 981 so far in his collegiate journey.
• Middle Tennessee is averaging 76.2 points per game this season after averaging a league low 65.7 last season. The 10.5 point increase is the largest of any CUSA team and the 11th largest in DI.
• In the game against Western Kentucky, three Blue Raiders scored 20+ points, marking the first time since January 2020 that three have scored 20+ in the same game.
• The Blue Raiders rank 18th in the country in three-point percentage defense, only allowing opponents to score on 29.6 percent of their three-point shots.
• With an average of 3.33 offensive rebounds per game, Essam Mostafa is ranked 22nd in the nation, first in the conference.
• Shooting an average field goal percentage of 60.2 percent, Mostafa ranks 16th in the country.
• With an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.43, Jlynn Counter sits 54th in the nation and third in the league.
• In the latest NCAA NET rankings, Middle Tennessee sits at 102, the second-highest CUSA team in the rankings.
• MT is 8-2 in the Glass House this season.
• With 19 dunks so far this season, Torey Alston ranks T-7th in program history, with data dating back to 2016-17.
• The Blue Raiders have outscored opponents 1906-1774 in the opening 25 games of the 2024-25 campaign.
Bulldog Notes
• Kaden Cooper returned to the starting lineup Saturday and recorded eight points and 13 rebounds, tying his career high.
• Sean Newman Jr. ranks top three in the country in both total assists (217) and assists per game (8.3).
• Daniel Batcho has scored 19+ points 13 times this season and ranks second in the nation in field goal percentage, shooting 69.0 percent.
• Amaree Abram has scored in double figures 18 times this season and has scored 16+ in three of his last five games.
Series History
Sam Houston leads the all-time series 2-1.
The Blue Raiders won the last meeting in Huntsville, Texas 77-75.
Bearkat Notes
• After a rough start to conference play, the Bearkats downed both Kennesaw State and league-leading Jacksonville State last week at home.
• Lamar Wilkerson won CUSA Player of the Week after averaging 27 points and 4.5 rebounds. Wilkerson is also the second leading scorer in CUSA at 19.7 points per game.
• Wilkerson was named the College Insider Lou Henson National Mid-Major Player of the Week after his performance last week.
• Sam Houston's back-to-back wins last week marked the first time the Bearkats have won two games in a row in CUSA play this season.
Players Mentioned
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