Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Saturday, February 14
Bowling Green, KY
7 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
12-13,6-8CUSA
80
at
82
WKU
14-11,7-7CUSA
1
2
F
Middle Tenn.
37
43
80
Western Ky.
42
40
82
Men's Basketball downed 82-80 at Western Kentucky
2/14/2026 10:36:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Middle Tennessee men's basketball team dropped a road contest to Western Kentucky Saturday, 82-80, in a tightly-played battle.
The two teams traded blows in the first half, with neither extending their lead past three until the nine-minute mark when the Hilltoppers hit a pair of threes to go up 22-16. Thanks to strong performances from Kamari Lands, who had 10 points, and Sean Smith, who tallied nine, the Blue Raiders were able to cut into the Hilltopper lead to enter the locker room down 42-37 at the break
WKU exploded to start the second half, jumping out to a 14-point lead at the under 16 media timeout. Middle Tennessee was unwilling to give up however, piecing together good runs through tough contact layups. The team ran into foul trouble early in the second half after both post players picked up four fouls each with 10 to go. Smith went on a tear in the back half of the second with 10 points of his own and drew enough attention from WKU to be able to pass the ball out to tally six assists.
The Blue Raider defense held the Hilltoppers without a field goal for seven of the final eight minutes of play but continued to send them to the free throw line. Western Kentucky knocked down 20 of 23 free throws awarded to the team, sealing the game with two from leading scorer Teagan Moore.
Lands led the team with 20 points, including four three pointers, and Smith was just behind totaling 19 points. Luka Jovanovic, Smith and Land tied at the front with five rebounds and Smith dished out seven assists.
By the Numbers
40: The 40 points scored in the paint in Bowling Green are the most the Blue Raiders have tallied in conference play this season.
2: Sean Smith tied his career high with two blocks on the evening.
9: All nine Blue Raiders players who saw playing time scored at least once in the game.
The two teams traded blows in the first half, with neither extending their lead past three until the nine-minute mark when the Hilltoppers hit a pair of threes to go up 22-16. Thanks to strong performances from Kamari Lands, who had 10 points, and Sean Smith, who tallied nine, the Blue Raiders were able to cut into the Hilltopper lead to enter the locker room down 42-37 at the break
WKU exploded to start the second half, jumping out to a 14-point lead at the under 16 media timeout. Middle Tennessee was unwilling to give up however, piecing together good runs through tough contact layups. The team ran into foul trouble early in the second half after both post players picked up four fouls each with 10 to go. Smith went on a tear in the back half of the second with 10 points of his own and drew enough attention from WKU to be able to pass the ball out to tally six assists.
The Blue Raider defense held the Hilltoppers without a field goal for seven of the final eight minutes of play but continued to send them to the free throw line. Western Kentucky knocked down 20 of 23 free throws awarded to the team, sealing the game with two from leading scorer Teagan Moore.
Lands led the team with 20 points, including four three pointers, and Smith was just behind totaling 19 points. Luka Jovanovic, Smith and Land tied at the front with five rebounds and Smith dished out seven assists.
By the Numbers
40: The 40 points scored in the paint in Bowling Green are the most the Blue Raiders have tallied in conference play this season.
2: Sean Smith tied his career high with two blocks on the evening.
9: All nine Blue Raiders players who saw playing time scored at least once in the game.
Team Stats
MTSU
WestKy
FG%
.485
.489
3FG%
.259
.364
FT%
.692
.875
RB
35
29
TO
12
14
STL
6
5
Game Leaders
Pts
20
FGM
8
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
19
FGM
8
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
C
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballMTSU Men's Basketball Recap vs Kennesaw State University
Friday, February 13
Nick McDevitt LIVE: Presented by The Boulevard Bar & Grille (Video) - 2.9.26
Monday, February 09
MTSU Men's Basketball Post Game Press Conference vs FIU 2/4/26
Wednesday, February 04
Nick McDevitt LIVE: Presented by The Boulevard Bar & Grille (Video) - 2.2.26
Tuesday, February 03
