Can the Blue Raiders Outshine the Miners at Don Haskins Center?

As the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders prepare to face off against the UTEP Miners at Don Haskins Center, fans are eager to see if their team can bounce back from a recent slump. The upcoming game, scheduled for January 18th at 8:00 PM, is crucial for MTU as they seek redemption on the road.

The Blue Raiders have had a rocky start to their season. In their last game against Sam Houston Bearkats on January 13th, MTU fell short with a final score of 51-60. Despite putting up a valiant effort in defense with five blocks and four steals, their offensive execution was lacking; they shot only 32 percent from the field and an underwhelming 26 percent from beyond the arc.

However, it's not all doom and gloom for MTU fans. The team showed promise in an earlier match-up on January 4th against Reinhardt Eagles where they dominated with an impressive score of 84-47. Their field goal percentage was a solid 50 percent and they excelled in points off turnovers with a staggering total of 31 points – showcasing their ability to capitalize on opponents' mistakes.

The key for MTU will be consistency. They need to replicate that high-energy performance against UTEP while tightening up their shooting accuracy which has been problematic in recent games. The Miners are not to be underestimated either; any lapse in concentration could prove costly.

Looking at UTEP's past performances provides some hope for MTU supporters. While specific statistics for UTEP's previous games aren't available here, one can infer that if Middle Tennessee brings its A-game as seen against Reinhardt Eagles – combining strong defense with efficient scoring – victory is within reach.

MTU must focus on improving its assists turnover ratio which stood at just 0.5 during their loss to Sam Houston Bearkats but reached an impressive high of 1.7 during their win over Reinhardt Eagles.

Fans should expect Coach Nick McDevitt to have addressed these inconsistencies in practice sessions leading up to this critical encounter.

For those loyal supporters planning to watch this pivotal game unfold live or from home, tune into CBS Sports Network channel number two hundred twenty-one or head over to Don Haskins Center where tip-off will commence promptly at eight o'clock PM local time on January eighteenth.