Can the Blue Raiders' Precision from Beyond the Arc Cement Their Dominance Over Gamecocks?
The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders and the Jacksonville State Gamecocks clashed in a conference game that showcased the host's sharpshooting abilities. The final scoreboard read 75-67, reflecting a hard-fought victory for the Blue Raiders. The Middle Tennessee team now stands with an improved record, while the Gamecocks adjust their tally accordingly.
The Murphy Athletic Center was buzzing with excitement as fans witnessed a competitive matchup. The Blue Raiders demonstrated their offensive capabilities early on, ending the first half with a solid lead thanks to their 35 points against the Gamecocks' 23. They maintained this momentum into the second half, adding another 40 points to secure their win.
A critical aspect of Middle Tennessee's success was their remarkable accuracy from three-point range, hitting an impressive 47 percent of shots compared to Jacksonville State's 29 percent. This sharpshooting contributed significantly to their total score and was complemented by an efficient free-throw performance where they scored at an 80 percent clip.
Defensively, both teams were neck and neck with each recording eight steals; however, it was in blocking where Middle Tennessee edged out with seven blocks over Jacksonville State's four. This defensive effort helped contain Jacksonville State’s attempts to close in on the lead.
On individual performances for Middle Tennessee, every player who stepped onto court contributed valuably towards rebounds and assists. Collectively they outrebounded Jacksonville State by one rebound (35-34), which included securing more offensive rebounds (12) than their opponents (9). Their tenacity on defense also translated into more points off turnovers (16) than what Jacksonville State managed to produce (13).
Despite being outscored in fast break points and points in paint by Jacksonville State – who posted eight fast break points and dominated inside with 36 points – it was Middle Tennessee’s balanced attack that ultimately prevailed.
Looking ahead for fans of Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders basketball: The next game is set at Murphy Athletic Center against Florida International Panthers on January 27th at 5:00 PM local time. Supporters can catch all live action via ESPN+ internet broadcast network as both teams take to court once again aiming for victory.