Aggies Aim to Raid Middle Tennessee's Home Court at Murphy Athletic Center
As the New Mexico State Aggies prepare to face off against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, fans are eager for insights into how their team might perform. The upcoming clash at the Murphy Athletic Center on February 16 promises to be a pivotal moment in the Aggies' season.
The NMSU has shown a pattern of strong starts but faltering finishes, as seen in their December 23 game against Tulsa's Golden Hurricane. Despite leading with 37 points in the first half, they struggled to maintain momentum and ultimately fell short with only 22 points in the second half. This inconsistency could be a concern when facing MTU, who will undoubtedly capitalize on any lapse in performance.
However, there is reason for optimism among Aggie supporters. Their resilience was on full display during their December 20 encounter with Stephen F. Austin's Lumberjacks. After trailing at halftime, NMSU surged back with an impressive 50-point second-half performance. Although it wasn't enough to secure victory that night, it showcased their ability to overcome adversity—a trait that will be crucial against MTU.
One area where NMSU must improve is three-point shooting accuracy; a mere 15 percent success rate from beyond the arc won't cut it against Middle Tennessee's defense. On a positive note, free throw proficiency stands out as one of NMSU's strengths—shooting an excellent 90 percent from the line against Tulsa and maintaining solid percentages overall.
Defensively, NMSU has demonstrated tenacity by averaging over four blocks per game and maintaining decent steal numbers across recent matchups. These defensive efforts will need to be at their peak when they confront MTU’s offense.
The Blue Raiders should not be underestimated; they have proven themselves capable adversaries and will have home-court advantage this time around. However, if NMSU can leverage its strong paint presence—where they've consistently outscored opponents—and tighten up perimeter defense while improving long-range shooting accuracy, there is every chance that they can turn potential into victory.
Aggie fans are encouraged to rally behind their team as they embark on this challenging away game journey. The action unfolds on February 16 at Murphy Athletic Center in Murfreesboro and can be streamed live via ESPN+ starting at 6:30 PM Central Time (CT).