Final: MTSU 68 Jax State 70

The Blue Raiders get one last possession, but fail to get a shot up to tie the game. MTSU’s season ends in the Conference USA semifinals.

MTSU stat leaders

Points: Jlynn Counter – 18

Rebounds: Jlynn Counter – 8

Assists: Jlynn Counter – 4

0:14 2H: Officials review possession after Jax State pokes the ball away from Jlynn Counter, and the Blue Raiders keep possession.

0:22 2H: Quel’Ron House hits two free throws to give Jax State a 70-68 lead.

0:31 2H: Timeout Jax State. Four consecutive missed free throws between the Gamecocks and Blue Raiders keeps the game locked at 68-68. Jax State posession following the break.

1:15 2H: Middle Tennessee ties the game for the first time since the half at 68-68.

1:52 2H: Timeout Jax State. The Gamecocks spend a time in between two Essam Mostafa free throws. Mostafa hit the first to cut the Jax State lead to 68-65.

3:49 2H: Media timeout. Justin Bufford picks up his third foul, and Jax State will shoot the free throws following the break. Bufford and Essam Mostafa both have three fouls for Middle Tennessee.

4:47 2H: Timeout Middle Tennessee. MTSU head coach Nick McDevitt spends a full timeout after a Kamari Lands three cuts the Jax State lead to 64-57.

7:00 2H: Essam Mostafa ends MTSU’s scoring drought with a three-pointer. Jax State leads 57-51.

7:23 2H: Media timeout. Jax State leads 57-48. The well is running dry for both teams right now as the Blue Raiders and Gamecocks are a combined 0-9 in their last nine attempts from the field. Middle Tennessee is currently on a 3:15 scoring drought.

11:47 2H: Media timeout. Camryn Weston draws an and-one going into the scheduled break. Weston will take his free throw following the timeout. Jax State’s lead is cut to 50-43 after a 4-0 run by Middle Tennessee.

15:01 2H: Essam Mostafa hits two free throws and gets the Blue Raider on the board in the second half. Jax State leads 43-37.

15:52 2H: Media timeout. Jax State is on an 8-0 run to begin the second half. The Gamecocks lead 43-35 as the Blue Raiders are 0-5 from the field since halftime.

17:22 2H: Timeout Middle Tennessee. Head coach Nick McDevitt spends a timeout after a Jlynn Counter pass sails out of bounds. Jax State leads 40-35 after a 5-0 run to begin the second half.

Halftime: MTSU 35 Jax State 35

A last second foul on Middle Tennessee’s Kamari Lands gives Jax State’s Quel’Ron House two free throws to tie things up going into the break.

MTSU stat leaders

Points: Jestin Porter – 13

Rebounds: Essam Mostafa – 3

Assists: Camryn Weston – 3

Jax State stat leaders

Points: Quel’Ron House – 9

Rebounds: Marcellus Brigham Jr. – 3

Assists: Michael Houge – 3

0:31 1H: Timeout MTSU. The Blue Raiders lead 35-33. A Chris Loofe dunk stands as MTSU’s latest bucket.

2:38 1H: Media timeout. Middle Tennessee leads Jax State 32-31. Kamari Lands has six points for the Blue Raiders after two consecutive three-pointers. Jestin Porter leads the team in scoring with 13.

7:30 1H: Media timeout. Middle Tennessee leads 24-22. Sharp three-point shooting gives the Blue Raiders an edge thus far. MTSU is currently 56% from beyond the arc.

11:19 1H: Media timeout. MTSU leads 17-12. Jestin Porter of Middle Tennessee leads all scorers with eight points.

15:54 1H: Media timeout. Middle Tennessee leads Jax State 6-4. A little sloppy from both sides early, Jax State coming off a day’s rest and MTSU coming off a late double overtime thriller.

20:00 1H: Middle Tennessee wins the tip.