Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Host Murray State Racers at Murphy Athletic Center

As the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders gear up to face the Murray State Racers at the Murphy Athletic Center, fans are brimming with anticipation. The upcoming clash on December 22 is poised to be a pivotal moment for the MTU squad, and there's plenty of data to suggest that they have what it takes to secure a victory.

Looking back at MTU's recent performance against Chattanooga on December 16, despite falling short with a final score of 73-82, there were notable strengths in their gameplay. The Blue Raiders demonstrated an impressive ability to generate points from turnovers and fast breaks, scoring 13 and 15 points respectively in these areas. Their two-point shooting was also solid at a 55 percent completion rate.

However, it wasn't all smooth sailing for MTU; they struggled on the defensive end with only four blocks compared to Chattanooga's five and had fewer total rebounds (21 vs. Chattanooga's 37). To come out on top against Murray State, MTU will need to tighten their defense and dominate the boards.

In another past game against Belmont on December 10 which went into overtime resulting in an exhilarating win of 85-75 for MTU, their tenacity was evident. They racked up an impressive number of blocks (13) and steals (12), showcasing their defensive prowess. Additionally, they managed a commendable assist-to-turnover ratio of one – indicative of smart ball-handling under pressure.

When comparing these performances with Maryville College Scots' game on December 3 where MTU won by a margin (69-46), it’s clear that when MTU controls the paint – evidenced by scoring 34 points in this area – they're tough to beat. Their field goal percentage stood strong at around 45 percent across these games indicating consistent shooting efficiency.

The key takeaway from analyzing past games is that when MTU capitalizes on turnovers and maintains strong defense while controlling the paint area effectively, they can overpower opponents convincingly.

Murray State Racers will undoubtedly bring challenges; however based on recent performances by both teams - if Middle Tennessee can leverage its strengths while shoring up its rebounding - there’s every reason for fans to believe in an impending victory for their team.

Fans eager not just for action but also analysis should mark their calendars: On Thursday night at midnight Eastern Time (ET), all eyes will be fixed upon Murphy Athletic Center where this exciting matchup unfolds live via ESPN+.