MTSU Strikes Gold On Saturday

Charlotte 49ers (11-13, 5-8)

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (22-4, 12-1)

First Half

The Blue Raiders came in to the game sitting pretty atop C-USA’s standings all alone. The 49ers at 10th, respectively, but in the first 15 minutes you could have thrown those stats out the window. The Raiders were not there selves and the 9ers looked to capitalize.

As well as Charlotte was playing, like in most cases, the Raiders are the only team that stop themselves. In the first half they were doing just that. Sloppy fouls, missed open shots, and unforced turnovers plagued Big Blue during the first. Even with Charlotte out front the difference in talent was still evident, as the Raiders never let the game get away from them despite poor play.

The usual culprits would eventually get MTSU going. Giddy Potts drilled a three at the 8:30 mark to give the Raiders their first lead since the early seconds of the game. From that point on it was business as usual at the Murphy Center. The Raiders would go to hold the lead at intermission, up 33-24.

Second Half

The Raiders would pick up right where they left off in the first. Adding to their lead while leaving the 49ers stranded in the mine shaft. The Raiders largest lead of the night would be as high as 20 with three minutes left in the game. The game was already well in hand when JaCorey Williams, who had another stellar night, threw down (literally) a monster dunk where he didn’t even touch the rim he jumped so high. Williams merely spiked the ball through the net.

The Raiders will now begin perhaps the toughest part of their schedule at a critical time late in the season. The stretch consists of three road games, starting off with 100 Miles of Hate in Bowling Green. The MTSU/WKU game will be February 16th with a late start time of 8pm. The Blue Raiders wont be back home until March 2nd when they face FIU.

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