Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
“Having veteran players that’s been in that moment, that matters” - Blue Raiders grit their way through Double Overtime into CUSA Semifinals
3/14/2025 10:12:00 AM | Men's Basketball
"There were times when that part of it wasn't the prettiest, really for either team,” Head Coach Nick McDevitt said.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The philosopher James William Buffett, better known as Jimmy, once said that "With a little love and luck, you will get by; With a little love and luck, we'll take the sky."
The Mayor of Margaritaville was almost not certainly thinking of Conference USA Basketball on his 1992 song from the Boats disc of "Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads". But at the hour of 2 a.m. of Friday, just three hours after the end of Middle Tennessee's 77-75 double overtime win over Louisiana Tech in the quarterfinals of the Conference USA Tournament, the Blue Raiders certainly had a little love and luck on their side on Thursday night in the Von Braun Center.
Despite getting outscored in the paint, 52-40, or missing 11 free throws on the night, or building up a nine-point lead at halftime, 40-31, only to score just 22 points in the second half to allow LA Tech back into the game. Despite Justin Bufford's heroic three-pointer at the end of regulation, which laced through seemingly as the clock expired, being waved off after a review showed Bufford just missed getting it off before the shot clock expired. Despite your first-team all-conference forward, Essam Mostafa, sitting all but three minutes in the first half after two quick fouls, the Blue Raiders found a way to win.
"I was just happy with the way our guys kept believing that we were going to win the game," head coach Nick McDevitt said. "The talk in the huddles, the execution of big moments was enough to win the game. There were times when that part of it wasn't the prettiest, really for either team, but you could see how both teams (wanted it) really badly."
To be fair to the Bulldogs, Middle Tennessee had some luck on their side as well on Thursday. LA Tech only made one three all night, a Sean Newman Jr. shot from the top of the key that went down after 45:30 of game time near the start of the second overtime. The Bulldogs' best player, CUSA Defensive Player of the Year Daniel Batcho, played just sixteen minutes after hurting his ankle badly in the middle of the first half, opening up the paint for MTSU, particularly in overtime after Will Allen, Batcho's primary backup, fouled out of the game.
"He tried to go back in the second half," LA Tech head coach Talvin Hester said of Batcho, who checked out of the game at the 12:24 left in the second half and never returned. "I looked at him with about 15, 14 minutes left and he said, 'I can't go, Coach.'"
Jestin Porter was locked in early, scoring 16 of his 20 points in the first half, finding ways to get to the rim early and often. Jlynn Counter, in his first conference tournament quarterfinal ever in his collegiate career, led MTSU with five assists while scoring 16 points of his own. And with Mostafa battling foul trouble, Chris Loofe stepped up, scoring seven points and hauling in seven rebounds while playing 28 minutes on Thursday.
"This time of year, you've got to know what each possession, each game, each segment is all about," McDevitt said. "Each rebound is contested. The catch on the wing is contested.
"You just feel the intensity in the building and having veteran players that's been in that moment, that matters."
But it was Mostafa who would be the final hero of the night, scoring a putback layup with ease off a missed Jestin Porter layup with 16 seconds to go that gave MTSU the lead for good. LA Tech got two chances to win or tie the game after Chris Loofe's game sealing rebound off the first miss turned into a held ball call after Sean Elkinton jumped over Loofe's back to go for the ball. But Al Green's final shot of the night fell short, leaving the Blue Raiders tired, but grateful. Mostly for the chance to play another game with a group that's grown close over the course of their battles this season and the fans that have followed them.
"I just enjoy playing with these guys," Counter said. "Shout out to our fans that came down. We had a really great crowd and we appreciate them for staying up late. Because I'm tired, I know they're tired."
The Mayor of Margaritaville was almost not certainly thinking of Conference USA Basketball on his 1992 song from the Boats disc of "Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads". But at the hour of 2 a.m. of Friday, just three hours after the end of Middle Tennessee's 77-75 double overtime win over Louisiana Tech in the quarterfinals of the Conference USA Tournament, the Blue Raiders certainly had a little love and luck on their side on Thursday night in the Von Braun Center.
Despite getting outscored in the paint, 52-40, or missing 11 free throws on the night, or building up a nine-point lead at halftime, 40-31, only to score just 22 points in the second half to allow LA Tech back into the game. Despite Justin Bufford's heroic three-pointer at the end of regulation, which laced through seemingly as the clock expired, being waved off after a review showed Bufford just missed getting it off before the shot clock expired. Despite your first-team all-conference forward, Essam Mostafa, sitting all but three minutes in the first half after two quick fouls, the Blue Raiders found a way to win.
"I was just happy with the way our guys kept believing that we were going to win the game," head coach Nick McDevitt said. "The talk in the huddles, the execution of big moments was enough to win the game. There were times when that part of it wasn't the prettiest, really for either team, but you could see how both teams (wanted it) really badly."
To be fair to the Bulldogs, Middle Tennessee had some luck on their side as well on Thursday. LA Tech only made one three all night, a Sean Newman Jr. shot from the top of the key that went down after 45:30 of game time near the start of the second overtime. The Bulldogs' best player, CUSA Defensive Player of the Year Daniel Batcho, played just sixteen minutes after hurting his ankle badly in the middle of the first half, opening up the paint for MTSU, particularly in overtime after Will Allen, Batcho's primary backup, fouled out of the game.
"He tried to go back in the second half," LA Tech head coach Talvin Hester said of Batcho, who checked out of the game at the 12:24 left in the second half and never returned. "I looked at him with about 15, 14 minutes left and he said, 'I can't go, Coach.'"
Jestin Porter was locked in early, scoring 16 of his 20 points in the first half, finding ways to get to the rim early and often. Jlynn Counter, in his first conference tournament quarterfinal ever in his collegiate career, led MTSU with five assists while scoring 16 points of his own. And with Mostafa battling foul trouble, Chris Loofe stepped up, scoring seven points and hauling in seven rebounds while playing 28 minutes on Thursday.
"This time of year, you've got to know what each possession, each game, each segment is all about," McDevitt said. "Each rebound is contested. The catch on the wing is contested.
"You just feel the intensity in the building and having veteran players that's been in that moment, that matters."
But it was Mostafa who would be the final hero of the night, scoring a putback layup with ease off a missed Jestin Porter layup with 16 seconds to go that gave MTSU the lead for good. LA Tech got two chances to win or tie the game after Chris Loofe's game sealing rebound off the first miss turned into a held ball call after Sean Elkinton jumped over Loofe's back to go for the ball. But Al Green's final shot of the night fell short, leaving the Blue Raiders tired, but grateful. Mostly for the chance to play another game with a group that's grown close over the course of their battles this season and the fans that have followed them.
"I just enjoy playing with these guys," Counter said. "Shout out to our fans that came down. We had a really great crowd and we appreciate them for staying up late. Because I'm tired, I know they're tired."
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