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Blue Raiders topple WKU, 71-57, in the Glass House

MT Athletics
Posted 1/20/25

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — In the highly anticipated matchup between the Blue Raiders and the Hilltoppers, MTSU came out on top, 71-57, in the Glass House Saturday night.

After a week off from …

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Blue Raiders topple WKU, 71-57, in the Glass House

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MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — In the highly anticipated matchup between the Blue Raiders and the Hilltoppers, MTSU came out on top, 71-57, in the Glass House Saturday night.

After a week off from playing, each team needed time to settle into the game, with a total of six points scored in the first five minutes. Cold shooting hurt the Blue Raiders, with just 18 percent of their shots falling in the first 10 minutes, compared to WKU's 28 percent shooting and five turnovers. The score was tied at nine at the midway point of the first half.

Each team kept battling and matching each other's baskets. MTSU hit its first three-pointer of the evening with 4:30 to go in the first half, when Jestin Porter drained a shot from deep as the shot clock expired. This sparked an offensive run, with Camryn Weston hitting a three-pointer to pair with a mid-range jumper. Despite the late run, WKU took a one-point lead into the break, 28-27. Weston led MTSU with 10 points, followed by Porter and Jlynn Counter with six each.

The second half was all Blue Raiders. Middle Tennessee found its groove, fueled by the high energy of the Murphy Center crowd. Torey Alston, Tre Green, Porter and Weston all hit shots from behind the arc, while Essam Mostafa found his stride on the glass. MTSU used back-to-back three-pointers from Green to take a 10-point lead with 10 minutes to go.

Mostafa was dominant on both ends of the court, showcasing his size and mobility with a block that led to an and-one layup. He finished the game with a career-high 18 rebounds and added 11 points, marking his ninth double-double of the season.

Porter led the scoring with 15 points, followed by Weston with 14, Counter with 13, and Mostafa with 11 as Middle Tennessee defeated Western Kentucky, 71-57. This was the lowest point total WKU has recorded in a game since March 8, 2023, against Florida Atlantic (51). It also marked the largest margin of victory for the Blue Raiders over the Hilltoppers since Feb. 26, 2022, at the Murphy Center.

By the Numbers:

20%: The Blue Raiders held the Hilltoppers to just 20 percent shooting from three, the lowest since mid-December.

18: Rebounds by Essam Mostafa, a career-high for the big man

9: Mostafa's ninth double-double of the season, with 11 points and 18 rebounds

4: Players in double-digit scoring figures, the first time this homestand.

2: Tre Green hit back-to-back threes with 10 minutes to go

Player's Perspective: Tre Green

"We had four guys in double-digits tonight, so a lot of that attention was on them. I like to call it right position, right time with the shots that I make. I work on my shot a lot, so I want to take advantage of my opportunities when I can."

McDevitt's Mic:

"It's a great win for us and a great crowd… any time we play Western, it's a good game. At the start, it wasn't a great offensive performance for either team. I thought both teams really guarded hard. Each team had to adjust to the physicality the other brought. I like where we are, but we have plenty to improve on."

Up Next:

Middle Tennessee will hit the road to face the Sam Houston Bearkats on Thursday, Jan. 23, at 6:30 p.m.

Middle Tennessee State University Blue Raiders Basketball, Western Kentucky Hilltoppers