Blue Raiders begin preparations for FIU

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee will have to have a short memory, quickly move past its win over Western Kentucky and begin preparations for FIU.

The Blue Raiders will play host to FIU on Saturday, Feb. 12 at 4:30 p.m., which is less than 48 hours after it last competed.

Middle Tennessee has won four of the last five meetings between the two schools and leads the all-time series 17-6.

FIU has lost two straight and eight of its last nine games. Its only win during the stretch was 81-80 in overtime at Troy. Overall, the Panthers have five players averaging double figure scoring led by DeJuan Wright with 14.8 points per game. In Sun Belt action, Wright is averaging 15 points per game while Eric Frederick leads the defense with 6.3 rebounds per game.

The Blue Raiders have now won six of their last seven games and are averaging 66.6 points per game during the stretch with a scoring margin of +8.3.

Senior James Washington and r-sophomore Jason Jones continue to average double figure scoring while senior Trevor Ottley leads the defense with his 4.7 rebounds per game.

The game with the Panthers is set for 4:30 p.m. on the front end of a doubleheader with the women's team. It will also be the Learning Circle Honor Roll Day with area school children receiving free admission with a voucher. Chip Walters and Kyle Turnham will have all the action from Murphy Center on the Blue Raider network.

The Sun Belt Championships will be held in Hot Springs, Ark., March 4-8. Tickets for all sessions are $83 and on sale through the Blue Raider Ticket Office by contacting 1-888-YES-MTSU or by visiting goblueraiders.com. <

P> NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS Success in the Belt... With the win over rival Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee improved to 8-4 in Sun Belt Conference action. This is a record the Blue Raiders have become very familiar with as the y have posted an 8-4 record 12 games into league action each season since 2008-09. The only other season the Blue Raiders had a better start to league play was in 2002-03, head coach Kermit Davis' first season, when they went 9-3. In 2002-03 and 2009-10, the Blue Raiders posted a 9-4 record after the 13 game had been played.

Davis Notches MT win No. 150... Head coach Kermit Davis recorded his 150th win as the head coach at Middle Tennessee with the 69-60 win over rival Western Kentucky on Feb. 10, 2011.Davis is just the second coach in program history to reach the milestone and is now just 15 wins away from passing Jimmy Earle as the program's most winningest coach.

Momentum Changes... Starting with the four-minute mark of the first half until just under the 14-minute mark of the second half Middle Tennessee outscored Western Kentucky 25-3 taking a 15-point lead, 45-30. During the stretch, Middle Tennessee made four treys, two each by senior James Washington and sophomore James Gallman.

Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter @MTAthletics for continued updates.