Blue Raiders win in double OT, eliminate Bulldogs in CUSA Quarterfinals for second consecutive year

Thursday, March 13

Huntsville, Ala.

8 p.m.

Middle Tennessee

22-10,12-6CUSA

LA Tech

20-12,9-9CUSA

OT 1

OT 2

Louisiana Tech

Middle Tenn.

MBB vs LA Tech CUSA Quarterfinals 3-13-25

3/14/2025 1:15:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Game Book CUSA Basketball Championship Central Photo Gallery

By: @MTAthletics

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The seeds were different than last year's Conference USA tournament, but the result was the same, as 3-seed Middle Tennessee men's basketball (22-10) dispatched 6-seed Louisiana Tech (20-12) by a score of 77-75 in double overtime in Thursday's quarterfinal matchup.

It was back-and-forth in the opening segment of the game as Jestin Porter knocked down the first Blue Raider 3-pointer, but the Bulldogs led 12-10 at the under-16 media timeout, taking advantage of their opportunities in the post.

Fouls were 7-2 to the benefit of the Bulldogs at the second media timeout, but Jlynn Counter ended the 3-minute, 50-second scoring drought for the Blue Raiders with a three-point play and cut the deficit to three with just over 11 minutes left in the first half.

Porter then ended another 3-minute scoring drought by going on an 11-4 run by himself to tie the game with just over five minutes left in the first half.

Chris Loofe hammered home a dunk after Counter swung a one-handed pass into the post to give the Blue Raiders a 29-27 lead. Tre Green beat the first half buzzer with a jumper, and MTSU took a 40-31 lead into the locker room. Also of note, Christian Fussell provided four big minutes in the first half, producing a rebound and a block in place of foul-troubled forwards Essam Mostafa and Loofe.

Counter opened MTSU's second half scoring with a three-pointer to get him in double digits. Loofe drove through the lane to score, and Torey Alston added an and-1 as the Blue Raider lead ballooned to 10 with 14 minutes to play.

The Blue Raider offense went cold in the middle portion of the second half, shooting 1-for-10 over a stretch and allowing the Bulldogs to get within one point with just under seven minutes left.

The Blue Raiders and Bulldogs scrapped down the stretch, and the game was tied at 62 with 31 seconds left. Justin Bufford drained a corner three as time seemed to expire, but upon review, the ball was still in Bufford's hand as the shot clock expired, leaving one second in regulation. LA Tech could not convert on its full-court attempt, and the game went to overtime.

Counter scored first in the first overtime, but scoring was limited for both teams. The Bulldogs again tied it up late: 66-66 with 21.3 seconds left. Neither MTSU nor LA Tech could convert in the closing seconds, and the game headed to a second overtime period.

A Counter-to-Alston alley-oop opened the second overtime, but LA Tech quickly answered with their first 3-pointer of the game. Mostafa added a pair of layups, and a Porter jumper with 1:05 on the clock put MTSU up two.

After LA Tech tied the game again, Mostafa put the Blue Raiders back up two with 16.8 remaining with an offensive rebound and layup. The MTSU defense held tough on the last Bulldog possession, securing a 77-75 double OT victory and a spot in the CUSA semifinals.

Porter paced the Blue Raiders with 20 points, followed by Counter with 16 points to go with five assists and four rebounds. Alston finished with 11 points and eight rebounds in his CUSA tournament debut, and the MTSU forwards made their presence known. Mostafa posted 11 points and six rebounds, and Loofe added seven points and seven rebounds.

By the Numbers
3 – The strength of the Blue Raider depth was showcased in the first half, as All-Conference USA First Team selection Essam Mostafa played just three minutes in the first half, a season-low.
70+ – The Blue Raiders have now scored at least 70 points in nine straight games, beating their previous streak of scoring 70+ in eight consecutive games in February/March 2005.
13 – Middle Tennessee is now 13-4 this season in games decided by single digits, one of just 21 Division I teams with a .750 win percentage or better.
1 – MTSU's defense allowed an opponent season low one 3-point field goal. The Bulldogs also posted an opponent season low 6.7 percent from three.

Blue Raider Notes
With the win on Thursday, MTSU advanced to the CUSA semifinals for the fourth consecutive season. The Blue Raiders are the only team with more than two CUSA semifinals appearances in that stretch.

Head Coach Nick McDevitt:
"I'm really proud of our team. It was a tough team win, obviously double overtime, late at night. That's two years in a row that we've played LA Tech and won on a miss at the buzzer. Both of them were hard-fought. I thought Green for them was playing really, really well. I was just happy with the way our guys kept believing we were going to win the game. The talk in the huddles, the execution of big moments was enough to win the game. There were times where that part of it wasn't the prettiest, really for either team, but you could see how both teams battled. We have to get home, get to bed, and be ready for a tough one tomorrow."

Senior Guard Jlynn Counter:
"It was fun. That was my first quarterfinal in my college career, so it was definitely fun. I'm just enjoying playing with these guys. Shoutout to our fans that came down. We had a really great crowd, and I really appreciate them for staying up late because I'm tired, and I know they're tired. We appreciate them, and it was a hard-fought win."

Up Next
Middle Tennessee advances to the semifinals of the Conference USA Championship against Jacksonville State at 2 p.m. CT Friday on CBS Sports Network.

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