Middle Tennessee men’s basketball (5-3) used a 44-point second half to break a two-game skid Monday night, taking down the University of Alabama-Birmingham Blazers (6-3), 76-59.
Coming out of the locker room for the second half, trailing 33-32, the Blue Raiders’ offense was clicking on all cylinders for the final 20 minutes. This was sparked by a stout defensive performance which included forcing eight second half turnovers.
“I was really happy with our team performance tonight, specifically on the defensive end of the floor,” MTSU head coach Nick McDevitt said. “We talked at halftime that we had put together some pretty good halves on the defensive end, but we looked like a team that was locked in on that end of the floor for the entire game.”
The Blue Raiders’ offense was carried by double-digit point performances coming from five different players, including redshirt sophomore Torey Alston who led the way with 19.
Alston has come on strong for Middle Tennessee lately, with two double-doubles in three games last week, including a 26-point, 16-rebound performance in a win against Murray State.
“The confidence my team has had in me [has been big],” Alston said. “My coaches and teammates are talking, just keep going … don’t let your foot off the gas, so that’s what I’ve been doing.”
Guards Sean Smith and Jahvin Carter made a big impact as well, with 16 and 13 points, respectively. The pair of first-year Blue Raiders picked up four assists each out of the backcourt.
“[We’re] just really playing the right basketball,” Smith said. “I got the open look, I’m going to take the open shot. If my teammate is open, I’m going to make sure he gets the shot.”
The Blue Raiders sent out their third different starting five in as many games. Guard Tre Green was back in the lineup after not appearing in the loss to McNeese State University in the Cayman Islands Classic.
McDevitt said these changes are usually based on the best matchups against opponents, instead of it being based on player performance.
“It’s nothing these guys are doing or not doing,” McDevitt said. “… They’re so unselfish, and they like to play with each other. So, they give you the flexibility as a coach and a coaching staff to make some of those adjustments and not have to worry if we hurt someone’s feelings.”
(Ephraim Rodenbach)
UAB was able to find an advantage in the first half due to its physical brand of play. Forward Evan Chatman had nine points and eight rebounds in the first 20 minutes. Dayjuan Anderson also contributed nine points, all of which came behind the arc.
MTSU stuck around as it overcame an eight-point swing in favor of the Blazers with five minutes to play in the half. Kamari Lands drilled a three-pointer from the top of the key as time expired to bring the Blue Raiders within one.
Alston and the rest of the offense found four different runs of six points or more, including scoring nine unanswered points from the 16-minute mark to the 12-minute mark.
The Blazers attempted to mount a comeback as they brought the Middle Tennessee lead down to six points with 7:52 to play, but three straight Blue Raider lay-ups and a free throw from Smith put it out of reach.
The Blue Raiders will next hit the floor on Dec. 7, playing host to the Belmont University Bruins (8-0) as the nightcap of a double-header in the Murphy Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. CDT.
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