Final: MTSU (14-7, 5-3 CUSA) falls 61-57 at home to New Mexico State (12-9, 5-3 CUSA). The Blue Raiders trailed by as much as 16 in the first half and surged back to bring the NMSU lead within two but couldn’t fully close the gap. Middle Tennessee will look to rebound at home on Saturday, Feb. 1 against UTEP.

MTSU stat leaders

Scoring: Camryn Weston, 19

Rebounds: Chris Loofe, nine

Assists: Jestin Porter, three

NMSU stat leaders

Scoring: Robert Carpenter, 16

Rebounds: Peter Filipovity, nine

Assists: Zawdie Jackson, three

0:07 2H: The Aggies will shoot two free throws to try and ice this one. MTSU trails 59-57.

0:55 2H: Timeout Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders will have possession coming out of the timeout, trailing 59-57.

4:20 2H: Timeout New Mexico State. A 7-0 MTSU run over the last 2:01 brings the Blue Raiders within four. NMSU leads 59-55.

5:54 2H: Media timeout. MTSU pulls back within single digits, trailing NMSU 59-50.

10:10 2H: Timeout New Mexico State. A Torey Alston dunk ignites the crowd, but the Aggies respond with a tough two-pointer of their own. NMSU lead is 54-44.

10:57 2H: Media timeout. New Mexico State’s lead shrinks to 52-42 after a Camryn Weston three-pointer.

11:40 2H: Nick McDevitt takes an MTSU timeout after New Mexico State sprints out to a 52-39 lead.

15:29 2H: Media timeout. Middle Tennessee trails 42-33.

18:03 2H: Technical foul on Torey Alston. New Mexico State hits one of the free throws and leads 38-30.

Halftime: MTSU’s season-worst night from the three-point line has them down nine as the Blue Raiders trail New Mexico State 35-26. Middle Tennessee is 3-17 from three at the break. However, a late three by Jlynn Counter and a block by Chris Loofe injected life into the Murphy Center crowd.

Stat leaders

Scoring: Jestin Porter, seven

Rebounds: Chris Loofe, five

Assists: Jestin Porter, three

4:24 1H: A 9-0 run from the Aggies over the last 2:09 forces McDevitt to burn a timeout. New Mexico State leads 30-16.

7:47 1H: Media timeout, New Mexico State leads 21-16. After Bufford’s three-pointer, the Blue Raiders are 1-9 from beyond the arc.

8:27 1H: Justin Bufford hits MTSU’s first three-pointer of the game.

11:04 1H: MTSU head coach Nick McDevitt calls timeout to regroup. Middle Tennessee is 0-7 from three-point range and New Mexico State leads 19-11.

15:44 1H: Media timeout. Some errant three-point shooting from MTSU has this one tied at 7-7.

18:53 1H: Jestin Porter converts a three-point play from the foul line and has all of MTSU’s points. Blue Raiders lead 5-2.

20:00 1H: Middle Tennessee wins the tip, and we are underway in the Murphy Center.