Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
2019-20 Men's Basketball Roster
Roster
Lawrence, Eli

Jersey Number 5
Eli Lawrence
- Position:
- G
- Ht./Wt.:
- 6-5 / 185
- Class:
- Freshman
- Hometown:
- Atlanta, Ga.
- High School:
- Tri-Cities HS
Bio
2022-23 (Junior): Named Second Team All-Conference USA... Led MTSU in scoring at 12.2 points per game... Averaged 4.1 rebounds per game... Led the way with 16 points in an 81-46 win over Rice (11/15)... Scored a season-high 21 points against Chattanooga (12/15)... Made SportsCenter's top 10 plays with a windmill dunk against Murray State (12/21)... Set a career high with 11 rebounds to go along with 13 points for a double-double against WKU (12/31)... Also tied his personal best with four assists against WKU... Led the team with 20 points and six rebounds, tying the game with a three-point play with 13 seconds left at UTSA (1/5)... Tied his season high with 21 points to lead a comeback victory at Rice (1/11/23)... Came up with a career-best four steals in a win at LA Tech (1/21)... Led MTSU with 17 points at No. 21 Florida Atlantic (1/26)... Led the Blue Raiders with 16 points, including a career-high six made free throws on six attempts at FIU (1/28)... Tied his season high with 21 points, going 8-for-16 from the floor and 5-for-8 from 3-point range while matching career highs with four steals and four offensive rebounds at WKU (2/9)... Became the 35th player to score 1,000 career points in a Blue Raider uniform at UAB, leading MTSU with 18 points, including a perfect 8-for-8 mark from the free throw line (2/11)... Scored 13 points, including a game-sealing free throw in the closing seconds of an upset over No. 25 Florida Atlantic (2/16)... Recorded 12 points and six rebounds with three assists in a win over LA Tech (2/25)... Returned from an ankle injury that caused him to miss the C-USA Quarterfinals to score eight points in 31 minutes in the semifinals against Florida Atlantic (3/10)
2021-22 (Sophomore): Was one of four Blue Raiders in double figures opening night with 12 points against Brescia (11/9)... Recorded season highs with 18 points, seven rebounds and three steals at Stephen F. Austin (11/19)... Named MVP of the Cancun Challenge Mayan Division... Equaled the second-highest scoring output of his career with 19 points against UT Martin (12/1)... Tied a career high with 10 rebounds against FIU (1/15/22)... Scored 13 consecutive points in a matter of three minutes on his way to an 18-point, seven-rebound, three-steal performance against Old Dominion (2/10)... Came one rebound shy of a double-double with 18 points and nine boards in a 74-65 win over Marshall (2/24)... Put up 19 points and seven rebounds in a C-USA quarterfinal win over UTEP (3/10)... Scored 17 points in MT's CBI semifinal win over Abilene Christian (3/22)... Averaged 10.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game... Led the Blue Raiders with 47 steals... Started all 37 games, setting a new program record along with DeAndre Dishman and Donovan Sims
2020-21 (Sophomore): Competed in 20 games and earned three starts on the wing in his sophomore campaign … Averaged 5.1 points per game on 35 percent shooting from the field and 32.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc … Grabbed 2.9 rebounds per game … Notched season highs in points (7), 3-point field goals (2) and assists (2) in 11 minutes off the bench in the home win against Covenant (12/12/20) … Pulled a season-best 4 rebounds and tied season highs for field goals made (2), free throws made (2) and steals (1) in a season-high 15 minutes off the bench against Ole Miss (12/16/20) … Was a major player for the Blue Raiders off the bench with 8 points (1/8/21) and 9 points (1/9/21) in a C-USA opening series split vs. FIU … Grabbed 6 rebounds in game one (1/15/21) and scored 8 points in game two (1/16/21) off the bench for the Blue Raiders at Southern Miss … Made his first career start in game one against Western Kentucky (1/23/21) and scored a season-high 14 points in a career-high 30 minutes … Suffered a foot injury in practice while preparing for the home game against UAB (1/28/21) … Returned to action in game two against Charlotte (2/6/21), helping the Blue Raiders complete a sweep … Was effective on the offensive end with 10 points and a career-high 4 assists in game one at Marshall (2/12/21) … Made his third start of the season in the regular season finale at Florida Atlantic (3/5/21).
2019-20 (Freshman): Saw action in all 31 contests as a rookie under Head Coach Nick McDevitt … Led MT’s freshman class with 5.9 points per game and added 2.9 rebounds per outing … Shot 40 percent from the field, 32 percent from 3-point range and 76 percent from the free throw line in 2019-20 … Made his Blue Raider debut against Maryville (Nov. 5), scoring eight points and pulling down four rebounds … Blocked a shot, stole a pass, and knocked down a 3-pointer in the win at Lipscomb (Nov. 9) … Was a catalyst in the win over Mars Hill (Nov. 13), scoring 11 points and seven rebounds in the final 15 minutes to propel the Blue Raiders to a win and his first career double-double … Played the most minutes of any bench player against Coastal Carolina (Nov. 18), contributing 10 points and eight rebounds … Logged his fourth career double-digit scoring game in the win over Columbia International (Dec. 3) while also bringing down seven boards … Sparked MT’s comeback attempt at Old Dominion (Jan. 2) with a then career-best 19 points on 5-8 from 3-point range … Had a career day with 27 points on 7-9 from 3-point range along with 6 rebounds and 3 steals at UTSA (Feb. 1) … Closed the season out with nine points in an overtime win against Southern Miss (Mar. 7).
Washington Academy: Played the first half of the 2018-19 prep season before enrolling at Middle Tennessee in January 2019.
Tri-Cities HS: Played for Head Coach Omari Forts … Averaged 22 points and 10 rebounds for his career … Was named First Team All-Region and Second Team All-State as a member of the Tri-Cities team … Competed in the Georgia Athletics Coaches Association North All-Star Team.
Personal: Born Feb. 29, 2000 in Columbia, S.C. … Son of Erick and Denise Lawrence … Has one brother, Jared … Majoring in Leisure, Sport and Tourism Studies … Favorite food is chicken alfredo … Favorite athlete is D’Angelo Russell … Favorite actor is Kevin Hart.
2021-22 (Sophomore): Was one of four Blue Raiders in double figures opening night with 12 points against Brescia (11/9)... Recorded season highs with 18 points, seven rebounds and three steals at Stephen F. Austin (11/19)... Named MVP of the Cancun Challenge Mayan Division... Equaled the second-highest scoring output of his career with 19 points against UT Martin (12/1)... Tied a career high with 10 rebounds against FIU (1/15/22)... Scored 13 consecutive points in a matter of three minutes on his way to an 18-point, seven-rebound, three-steal performance against Old Dominion (2/10)... Came one rebound shy of a double-double with 18 points and nine boards in a 74-65 win over Marshall (2/24)... Put up 19 points and seven rebounds in a C-USA quarterfinal win over UTEP (3/10)... Scored 17 points in MT's CBI semifinal win over Abilene Christian (3/22)... Averaged 10.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game... Led the Blue Raiders with 47 steals... Started all 37 games, setting a new program record along with DeAndre Dishman and Donovan Sims
2020-21 (Sophomore): Competed in 20 games and earned three starts on the wing in his sophomore campaign … Averaged 5.1 points per game on 35 percent shooting from the field and 32.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc … Grabbed 2.9 rebounds per game … Notched season highs in points (7), 3-point field goals (2) and assists (2) in 11 minutes off the bench in the home win against Covenant (12/12/20) … Pulled a season-best 4 rebounds and tied season highs for field goals made (2), free throws made (2) and steals (1) in a season-high 15 minutes off the bench against Ole Miss (12/16/20) … Was a major player for the Blue Raiders off the bench with 8 points (1/8/21) and 9 points (1/9/21) in a C-USA opening series split vs. FIU … Grabbed 6 rebounds in game one (1/15/21) and scored 8 points in game two (1/16/21) off the bench for the Blue Raiders at Southern Miss … Made his first career start in game one against Western Kentucky (1/23/21) and scored a season-high 14 points in a career-high 30 minutes … Suffered a foot injury in practice while preparing for the home game against UAB (1/28/21) … Returned to action in game two against Charlotte (2/6/21), helping the Blue Raiders complete a sweep … Was effective on the offensive end with 10 points and a career-high 4 assists in game one at Marshall (2/12/21) … Made his third start of the season in the regular season finale at Florida Atlantic (3/5/21).
2019-20 (Freshman): Saw action in all 31 contests as a rookie under Head Coach Nick McDevitt … Led MT’s freshman class with 5.9 points per game and added 2.9 rebounds per outing … Shot 40 percent from the field, 32 percent from 3-point range and 76 percent from the free throw line in 2019-20 … Made his Blue Raider debut against Maryville (Nov. 5), scoring eight points and pulling down four rebounds … Blocked a shot, stole a pass, and knocked down a 3-pointer in the win at Lipscomb (Nov. 9) … Was a catalyst in the win over Mars Hill (Nov. 13), scoring 11 points and seven rebounds in the final 15 minutes to propel the Blue Raiders to a win and his first career double-double … Played the most minutes of any bench player against Coastal Carolina (Nov. 18), contributing 10 points and eight rebounds … Logged his fourth career double-digit scoring game in the win over Columbia International (Dec. 3) while also bringing down seven boards … Sparked MT’s comeback attempt at Old Dominion (Jan. 2) with a then career-best 19 points on 5-8 from 3-point range … Had a career day with 27 points on 7-9 from 3-point range along with 6 rebounds and 3 steals at UTSA (Feb. 1) … Closed the season out with nine points in an overtime win against Southern Miss (Mar. 7).
Washington Academy: Played the first half of the 2018-19 prep season before enrolling at Middle Tennessee in January 2019.
Tri-Cities HS: Played for Head Coach Omari Forts … Averaged 22 points and 10 rebounds for his career … Was named First Team All-Region and Second Team All-State as a member of the Tri-Cities team … Competed in the Georgia Athletics Coaches Association North All-Star Team.
Personal: Born Feb. 29, 2000 in Columbia, S.C. … Son of Erick and Denise Lawrence … Has one brother, Jared … Majoring in Leisure, Sport and Tourism Studies … Favorite food is chicken alfredo … Favorite athlete is D’Angelo Russell … Favorite actor is Kevin Hart.
Facility tour – Stephen and Denise Smith Student-Athlete Performance Center
Wednesday, July 30
2025 Blue Raider Blitz Media Panel
Thursday, July 03
MTSU Men's Basketball Coach Nick McDevitt interview at 2025 Blue Raider Blitz
Monday, June 30
MTSU Men's Basketball Post Game Press Conference vs Chattanooga NIT 3/18/25
Tuesday, March 18