Middle Tennessee (31-4) sent Minnesota (24-10) back home after a 81-72 win Thursday afternoon in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. After slow start which saw them go down 7-0, the Blue Raiders turned on the jets, coming back, taking the lead and never giving it up.
Reggie Upshaw was the man of the day, scoring 16 of his game-high 19 points in the second half. Fellow senior JaCorey Williams cashed in on 13 points while Giddy Potts dropped 15.
The Blue Raiders move on to the second round which will be played Saturday at 6:10 pm on TBS.
Relive the day in the photos below:
Head coach Kermit Davis waives to fans as his team departs from the hotel towards the arena to play Minnesota in Milwaukee, WI on March 16, 2017. (MTSU Sidelines/Tyler Lamb)
The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders went up against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at the BMO Bradley Center in Milwaukee, WI on March 16, 2017. (MTSU Sidelines/Tyler Lamb)
The “March Madness” logo can be seen throughout the BMO Bradley Center this weekend for NCAA Tournament first-round games in Milwaukee, WI on from March 16-18. (MTSU Sidelines/Tyler Lamb)
The Blue Raiders head onto the floor led by Giddy Potts prior to an NCAA Tournament first-round game against Minnesota in Milwaukee, WI on March 16, 2017. (MTSU Sidelines/Tyler Lamb)
Aldonis Foote runs out of the tunnel for an NCAA Tournament first-round game against Minnesota in Milwaukee, WI on March 16, 2017. (MTSU Sidelines/Tyler Lamb)
JaCorey Williams puts up a hook shot in an NCAA Tournament first-round game against Minnesota in Milwaukee, WI on March 16, 2017. (MTSU Sidelines/Tyler Lamb)
MTSU’s Brandon Walters puts up a shot over Reggie Lynch in an NCAA Tournament first-round game against Minnesota in Milwaukee, WI on March 16, 2017. (MTSU Sidelines/Tyler Lamb)
Reggie Upshaw knocks down a 3-pointer in an NCAA Tournament first-round game against Minnesota in Milwaukee, WI on March 16, 2017. (MTSU Sidelines/Tyler Lamb)
JaCorey Williams (22) and Antwain Johnson (2) celebrate in an NCAA Tournament first-round game against Minnesota in Milwaukee, WI on March 16, 2017. (MTSU Sidelines/Tyler Lamb)
MTSU guard Qua Copeland passes the ball in bounds during an NCAA Tournament first-round game against Minnesota in Milwaukee, WI on March 16, 2017. (MTSU Sidelines/Tyler Lamb)
MTSU’s Brandon Walters guarded closely by Bakary Konate in an NCAA Tournament first-round game against Minnesota in Milwaukee, WI on March 16, 2017. (MTSU Sidelines/Tyler Lamb)
MTSU senior Aldonis Foote (45) shoots over Jordan Murphy (3) in an NCAA Tournament first-round game against Minnesota in Milwaukee, WI on March 16, 2017. (MTSU Sidelines/Tyler Lamb)
MTSU’s Antwain Johnson hangs in the air for a basket during an NCAA Tournament first-round game against Minnesota in Milwaukee, WI on March 16, 2017. (MTSU Sidelines/Tyler Lamb)
MTSU center Brandon Walters dunks it in an NCAA Tournament first-round game against Minnesota in Milwaukee, WI on March 16, 2017. (MTSU Sidelines/Tyler Lamb)
MTSU forward JaCorey Williams (Blue) puts up a shot over Reggie Lynch (White) in an NCAA Tournament first-round game against Minnesota in Milwaukee, WI on March 16, 2017. (MTSU Sidelines/Tyler Lamb)
MTSU’s Ed Simpson (11) connects from deep over Dupree McBrayer (1) in a 3-pointer in an NCAA Tournament first-round game against Minnesota in Milwaukee, WI on March 16, 2017. (MTSU Sidelines/Tyler Lamb)
The MTSU Band of Blue singing and dancing during an NCAA Tournament first-round game against Minnesota in Milwaukee, WI on March 16, 2017. (MTSU Sidelines/Tyler Lamb)
MTSU freshman point guard pull up in the lane during an NCAA Tournament first-round game against Minnesota in Milwaukee, WI on March 16, 2017. (MTSU Sidelines/Tyler Lamb)
Giddy Potts (20) passes the ball into JaCorey Williams (22) during an NCAA Tournament first-round game against Minnesota in Milwaukee, WI on March 16, 2017. (MTSU Sidelines/Tyler Lamb)
MTSU star Giddy Potts takes it strong to the basket during an NCAA Tournament first-round game against Minnesota in Milwaukee, WI on March 16, 2017. (MTSU Sidelines/Tyler Lamb)
Tyrik Dixon (0) drives on Stephon Sharp (15) in an NCAA Tournament first-round game against Minnesota in Milwaukee, WI on March 16, 2017. (MTSU Sidelines/Tyler Lamb)
Reggie Upshaw (30) sends the ball inside to teammate JaCorey Williams (22) in an NCAA Tournament first-round game against Minnesota in Milwaukee, WI on March 16, 2017. (MTSU Sidelines/Tyler Lamb)
MTSU’s Brandon Walters goes up for the layup in an NCAA Tournament first-round game against Minnesota in Milwaukee, WI on March 16, 2017. (MTSU Sidelines/Tyler Lamb)
The Blue Raider fan base made their presence known during in an NCAA Tournament first-round game against Minnesota in Milwaukee, WI on March 16, 2017. (MTSU Sidelines/Tyler Lamb)
Reggie Upshaw (30) makes a 3-pointer in the second half over Nate Mason (2) in an NCAA Tournament first-round game against Minnesota in Milwaukee, WI on March 16, 2017. (MTSU Sidelines/Tyler Lamb)
MTSU’s Tyrik Dixon sits in front of Minnesota point guard Nate Mason during an NCAA first-round game in Milwaukee, WI at BMO Harris Bradley Center on March 16, 2017. (MTSU Sidelines/Tyler Lamb)
JaCorey Williams celebrates after an And-1 made basket in an NCAA Tournament first-round game against Minnesota in Milwaukee, WI on March 16, 2017. (MTSU Sidelines/Tyler Lamb)
MTSU seniors Aldonis Foote and JaCorey Williams embrace towards the end of an NCAA Tournament first-round game against Minnesota in Milwaukee, WI on March 16, 2017. (MTSU Sidelines/Tyler Lamb)
Blue Raider head coach Kermit Davis being interviewed by a TNT reporter during an NCAA Tournament first-round game against Minnesota in Milwaukee, WI on March 16, 2017. (MTSU Sidelines/Tyler Lamb)
MTSU head coach giving a speech in the locker room to his team following in an NCAA Tournament first-round game against Minnesota in Milwaukee, WI on March 16, 2017. (MTSU Sidelines/Tyler Lamb)
Follow MTSU Men’s Basketball beat writers Tyler Lamb (@Tlamb35) and Rusty Ellis (@RustyEllis13) on Twitter for more coverage.
Feature Photo by Paige Mast
Story by Brett Walker
Middle Tennessee State women’s basketball (4-1) defeated Tennessee Tech (4-1) by a score of 69-52 at home on Tuesday night.
