Can the Blue Raiders Bounce Back After Grand Canyon Defeat?
The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders faced a challenging contest against the Grand Canyon Antelopes, ending with a score of 68-59. The Blue Raiders now stand with an additional loss to their record, while the Antelopes celebrate another victory.
The game at Grand Canyon University Arena saw the Middle Tennessee team put up a valiant effort. They started strong in the first quarter, scoring 17 points to their opponents' 20. However, they couldn't maintain this pace and fell slightly behind by halftime with a cumulative score of 33-35. The third quarter proved even more difficult for them as they added only 11 points against the Antelopes' 14, widening the gap further.
Despite being outscored in each quarter, there were notable performances from Middle Tennessee players who fought hard to keep their team in contention. The team's field goal percentage was recorded at 36 percent with successful attempts on 22 out of their total 62 shots taken during the game. From beyond the arc, they managed to hit six out of twenty-four three-point attempts resulting in a three-point percentage of 25 percent.
In terms of two-pointers, Middle Tennessee made good use of their opportunities inside by converting on sixteen out of thirty-eight attempts which translates into a two-point percentage of approximately forty-two percent. Their free throw accuracy was impressive as well; they scored nine out of eleven from the line achieving an eighty-two percent success rate.
The Blue Raiders showed tenacity under both baskets grabbing forty-one rebounds throughout the game – thirteen offensive and twenty-three defensive ones – giving them second-chance opportunities that resulted in twelve second-chance points. They also capitalized on turnovers by scoring seven points off them despite committing sixteen turnovers themselves.
On defense, Middle Tennessee managed four blocks and matched that number with four steals but struggled to contain Grand Canyon's fast-paced offense which scored seventeen fast break points compared to just two from Middle Tennessee.
Looking ahead for fans eager to follow their team's progress: The next challenge for Middle Tennessee will be an away game against Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters at Thomas Assembly Center located in Ruston on January 10th at around noon local time (6:00 PM Central Time). This matchup can be followed live by fans eager to see how their team will perform after this setback.