Blue Raiders preparing for Tennessee

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Middle Tennessee basketball program spent the Thanksgiving break preparing for three straight road games beginning with Tennessee on Tuesday, Nov. 30.

The Blue Raiders (3-3) are coming off an 82-70 win over Evansville and are looking to use that performance as guidance against Tennessee.

Middle Tennessee had five players score in double figures against the Purple Aces and has had at least two players post double figure scoring in each of its six games this season. Senior James Washington is currently averaging 16.3 points per game while r-sophomore Jason Jones is averaging 10.

Blue Raider forwards have added tremendous depth to the defense this season with junior Kyle Hunt averaging 6.5 rebounds per game and senior Trevor Ottley averaging 5.2.

Against Evansville, Ottley grabbed a team high nine rebounds and scored 14 points to help lead the team. Four other players had five rebounds each in the win as the team outrebounded Evansville 40-26.

Tennessee will be a tough opponent for the Blue Raiders as it is currently 5-0 and coming off a 78-68 win over Villanova to clinch the Preseason NIT Top-Off title.

The Blue Raider bench has also been very productive in each game this season scoring 25 or more points in all but one game. The bench has also accounted for almost half of Middle Tennessee’s rebounds on the season.

Tuesday’s game with the Volunteers is set for 6:30 p.m. CT and can be seen locally on Fox Sports South.  Middle Tennessee will then face SIU-Edwardsville on Dec. 4 and Belmont on Tuesday, Dec. 7 before returning to the friendly confines of Murphy Center. All Blue Raider games may also be heard on the Blue Raider Network with Chip Walters calling the action.

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