Friday, March 29, 2024

Men’s basketball opens season with blowout win over Milligan

Date:

Share post:

Photo by Tyler Lamb / Sports Editor

The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders opened their 2016-17 season with a matchup against the Milligan College Buffaloes. For MTSU, it was a chance to display a team that head coach Kermit Davis called the most athletic bunch he’s ever had at Middle Tennessee.

They did just that as they ran away with the game early, going up 22-6 less than seven-and-a-half minutes into the game. They continued the pressure on defense, as the Buffaloes struggled to get going early. They made a late push in the second half but it was too late as the Blue Raiders won 102-64.

Senior JaCorey Williams had the hot hand for the Blue Raiders, knocking down seven of his nine shots for 15 points in the first half. Antwain Johnson added nine points of his own, doing most of the damage from the free throw line as he made four of his seven attempts from the charity stripe.

Sophomore forward Karl Gamble scored seven first-half points, knocking down three of his five free throw attempts.

While the team looked good as a whole, junior Giddy Potts struggled in the first half, shooting 2-6 and missing all three of his attempts from beyond the arc.

The defense was the story of the first half, as they held the Buffaloes to 40 percent shooting. The Blue Raider defense controlled the perimeter as well, only giving up three makes from beyond the arc on ten attempts in the first half. Coach Davis said after that game that while the outcome was never in doubt, the team needs to improve their effort going forward.

“I still think that we’ve got good length, but the other team shot 41 percent against us and that’s really too high,” Davis said. “I think teams drive too easily on us.”

Though Milligan shot closer to 50 percent from the floor in the second half, the Blue Raiders were able to wear them down, going on a 23-4 run at one point to push the lead to 39. Senior Reggie Upshaw took over in the second half, scoring 15 of his 21 points. He finished with his 15th career double-double, adding 13 rebounds to his 21 points.

“Coach Davis came in and told us that we were playing like we were owed something,” Upshaw said of Davis’ message at half. “I just wanted to go out the second half and play with a chip on my shoulder.”

Williams made his long-awaited Blue Raider debut and he didn’t disappoint, tying Upshaw for the team lead in points with 21 of his own. Potts didn’t enjoy his best game, but added a very solid stat-line of 12 points, seven rebounds and a career-high seven assists. Antwain Johnson finished his debut with 17 points while Karl Gamble and Brandon Walters rounded out the double figure-scoring with 10 and 11 points, respectively.

While they played well in many aspects, Davis and his players recognize that they need to be better going forward.

“We know that the level of athletes and competition goes up. We’ve won a lot of games around here but Murray State has had their way with us the last two years,” Davis said of the upcoming schedule. “It’s a proud program and they’re going to be good. They’ll be right in the middle of that Ohio Valley championship race.”

The Blue Raiders will be back in action on Tuesday night against the Murray State Racers; tip-off is at 6:30 p.m.

For more sports stories, follow us at www.mtsusidelines.com, on Facebook at MTSU Sidelines and on Twitter at @Sidelines_Sport.

To contact Sports Editor Tyler Lamb (@Tlamb35), email sports@mtsusidelines.com.

Related articles

Alderman throws fourth no-hitter in program history in win over Liberty

Featured photo by Preston Todd Story by Conner Smith If you want more news like this, sign up for the Sidelines...

From Opava to Murfreesboro; how Ondrej Horak made his mark on MTSU tennis

Featured photo by Preston Todd Story by Brett Walker    If you want more news like this, sign up for the Sidelines...

MTSU’s season ends in second round of NCAA Tournament; fall 83-56 to LSU

Featured photo by Erin Douglas Story by Calvin White If you want more news like this, sign up for the Sidelines...