Middle Tennessee men’s basketball (12-12, 6-7 CUSA) defeated conference opponent Kennesaw State (14-10, 6-7 CUSA) 90-87, putting an end to their five-game losing streak. 

After trailing by four points going into halftime, the Middle Tennessee offense rallied in the second half powered by Sean Smith’s 22-point performance.  

In what was a physical and fast-paced matchup, KSU held the lead for the majority of the game, but the Blue Raiders’ offense responded when it mattered.  

“Over the last several games our pace has increased and we’re playing really well in transition,” head coach Nick McDevitt said on WGNS radio.  

A critical moment in the game came with 46 seconds left in the first half as Smith’s five-point effort cut the Middle Tennessee deficit to only four points, keeping the game within reach. 

“Sean Smith was terrific tonight, you could see it early… he was seeing the bucket and making plays,” McDevitt said. 

Along with Smith, forward Torey Alston played well, putting up 12 points in the second half alone. Alston finished the day shooting 7-of-11 from the field for a combined 21 points with six rebounds. 

What turned out to be the deciding factor for the Blue Raiders came with three minutes left in the game as Alston slammed a dunk home and a pair of free throws from Smith gave MTSU the lead. 

“We want to get out and push the ball, play fast, but we just got to know when to slow it down and when to execute the offense,” Smith said on WGNS radio.  

In the last minutes of the game, the Owls retook the lead, but only briefly as a dunk from forward Chris Loofe and a handful of free throws sealed the deal for the Blue Raiders.  

Middle Tennessee will head to Bowling Green, Kentucky on Saturday to play the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (13-11, 6-7 CUSA).  

To contact the Sports editor, email [email protected]. 

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