Middle Tennessee's Rally Falls Short at Pete Mathews Coliseum Against Jacksonville State
The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders faced a tough challenge against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks, ending with a score of 76-68 in favor of the home team. The Blue Raiders now stand with an overall record of 0-1, while the Gamecocks improve to 1-0.
In an intense matchup at Pete Mathews Coliseum, the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders displayed a resilient effort but ultimately fell short against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks. The Blue Raiders' performance was marked by their ability to convert from beyond the arc, hitting 12 three-pointers at a notable 41 percent accuracy rate. Their long-range shooting was complemented by their distribution of the ball as they tallied up 17 assists over the course of play.
Despite trailing at halftime with only 30 points compared to Jacksonville State's 35, Middle Tennessee fought back in the second half adding another 38 points to their total. However, it wasn't enough to overcome their opponents who scored consistently throughout both halves.
The Blue Raiders' defense managed three blocks and two steals but struggled to contain Jacksonville State's offense which put up a significant number of points in paint totaling at 38. On offense, Middle Tennessee capitalized on fast breaks scoring nine points but were unable to convert turnovers into points.
Rebounding was another area where Middle Tennessee showed tenacity grabbing a total of 34 rebounds; five offensive and twenty-nine defensive boards contributed by personal efforts from players stepping up on both ends of the court.
Free throw shooting for Middle Tennessee stood at an average rate as they made ten out of fifteen attempts translating into a free throw percentage rounded off to approximately sixty-seven percent. This aspect proved less effective compared to Jacksonville State who excelled from the line with an eighty-three percent success rate.
A key aspect for Middle Tennessee was maintaining possession; however, they accumulated ten turnovers during play which slightly impacted their overall performance despite having an assist-to-turnover ratio close to two (1.89).
Looking ahead after this hard-fought contest, fans can mark their calendars for when The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders host Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on February 24th at Murphy Athletic Center in Murfreesboro TN scheduled for a tip-off time around six-thirty PM Central Time Zone (CT). This game will be available for viewing on ESPN+, ensuring supporters won't miss any action as MTU looks forward toward bouncing back on home turf.