Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Outflamed by Liberty at Liberty Arena
The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders faced a tough challenge against the Liberty Flames, resulting in a 53-88 loss. The Blue Raiders now stand with their record reflecting more losses than victories, while the Flames' victory adds to their positive season tally. The game unfolded at the Liberty Arena, where the home team capitalized on their opportunities to secure a convincing win.
The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders started strong in the first half with 31 points but struggled to maintain momentum, adding only 22 points in the second half. Despite shooting 36 percent from the field and making six three-pointers at a 30 percent clip, they couldn't match up to their opponents' offensive execution. The team's free throw performance was notably lacking as well; they made just five out of thirteen attempts for a lowly 38 percent completion rate.
On defense, both teams recorded four blocks each. However, personal fouls were an issue for the Blue Raiders as they committed sixteen throughout the game which may have contributed to disrupting their rhythm and allowing more scoring opportunities for the Flames. In terms of ball handling and distribution, Middle Tennessee managed six assists but turned over possession eleven times which translated into only four points off turnovers.
Rebounding was another area where Middle Tennessee found themselves outmatched; they grabbed twenty-eight rebounds (twenty-three personal) compared to forty-one by Liberty. This included nineteen defensive boards and a modest nine fast break points that could not ignite enough transition offense for them.
Conversely, The Flames showcased impressive teamwork with twenty assists leading to high-percentage shots that resulted in fifty-six percent shooting from two-point range and an even more remarkable fifty-four percent from beyond the arc. Their ability to convert turnovers into fifteen points proved crucial in establishing control over The Blue Raiders.
Looking ahead after this challenging encounter on court, fans of Middle Tennessee can catch them next when they face off against Florida International Panthers at Ocean Bank Convocation Center on February 10th at 1:00 PM Eastern Time. This away game will be available for viewing on ESPN+, ensuring supporters won't miss any action as MTU aims to bounce back from this setback.