Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Clash with Sam Houston State Bearkats at Murphy Athletic Center in Men's Basketball Showdown

As the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders prepare to host the Sam Houston State Bearkats at the Murphy Athletic Center, fans are eager for what promises to be a riveting game of basketball. The MTU team is coming off a mixed bag of performances, but there's reason to believe they could dominate in their upcoming home game.

In their last outing on December 23 against Southern Utah Thunderbirds, MTU scored an impressive 63 points. Their field goal percentage was a solid 51 percent and they were particularly effective from two-point range, hitting an impressive 62 percent of those shots. Dominating inside with 46 points in the paint, they also showcased their rebounding prowess by grabbing 41 boards. However, turnovers were a concern as they gave up the ball 16 times.

Comparatively, on December 20 against Saint Mary's Gaels, MTU struggled with only 34 points and shooting percentages that left much to be desired; field goals fell to just under 28 percent and free throws were made at only about a dismal rate of around 44 percent. Turnovers continued to plague them with another high count of 18.

However, it's worth noting that when playing at home on December 10 against Belmont Bruins – another formidable opponent – MTU put up a good fight scoring a respectable total of 65 points. They improved their shooting percentage significantly from previous games to hit around the mark of about half from two-point range and managed an acceptable performance beyond the arc as well.

The Bearkats should not be underestimated though; any team can rise to the occasion or falter under pressure. But given MTU’s ability to bounce back after tough games and leverage their home-court advantage where they've shown stronger performances suggests that fans can expect them to come out swinging.

MTU will need to tighten up defensively and control turnovers if they want this win badly enough. With strong support from fans who have seen what this team is capable of when firing on all cylinders – especially within the familiar confines of Murphy Athletic Center – there’s every chance for Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders' victory dance by game end.

The scheduled tip-off is set for January 13th at precisely five o'clock PM local time in Murfreesboro, TN. Fans unable or preferring not brave chilly January weather can catch live action via ESPN+ streaming services online.