The Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders secured a hard-fought 90-87 win over the Kennesaw State Owls, with Sean Smith leading the charge with 22 points and 5 assists. The Blue Raiders' balanced attack saw 3 players score in double figures, including Torey Alston with 21 points and 6 rebounds, and Kamari Lands with 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists. Kennesaw State's Braedan Lue had a game-high 23 points and 5 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Blue Raiders' consistent scoring, with 45 points in each half.
Middle Tennessee State's Kamari Lands Had 7 Assists, A Season High
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with Kennesaw State taking a 49-45 lead into halftime. However, Middle Tennessee State came out strong in the second half, scoring 45 points to Kennesaw State's 38. The Owls' RJ Johnson had 21 points and 7 assists, while Frankquon Sherman added 19 points and 10 rebounds. The Blue Raiders' ability to maintain their scoring pace in the second half, with 45 points, was the difference-maker. Middle Tennessee State shot 51.7% from the field, including 42.1% from 3-point range, with 8 three-pointers made. Kennesaw State, on the other hand, shot 49.2% from the field and 35.7% from 3-point range, with 10 three-pointers made.
Braedan Lue was the top performer for Kennesaw State, with 23 points and 5 rebounds on 9-17 shooting. RJ Johnson added 21 points and 7 assists, while Frankquon Sherman had a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. For Middle Tennessee State, Sean Smith led the way with 22 points and 5 assists, including 3 three-pointers made. Torey Alston had 21 points and 6 rebounds, while Kamari Lands had 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists. The Blue Raiders' top performers combined for 56 points, 16 rebounds, and 17 assists, showcasing their balanced attack.
CHD Scout Report Card
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Final
The game saw both teams shoot over 49% from the field, with Middle Tennessee State making 8 three-pointers and Kennesaw State making 10. The Blue Raiders had a slight edge in rebounding, with 35 rebounds to Kennesaw State's 32. Middle Tennessee State also had 18 assists to Kennesaw State's 17, with Kamari Lands leading the way with 7 assists. The Owls had 12 turnovers, while the Blue Raiders had 11, with both teams taking care of the ball relatively well. The 90-87 final score reflected the high-scoring nature of the game, with both teams averaging over 1.1 points per possession.
The CHD Scout predicted a Kennesaw State win by 11.5 points, with a predicted score of 82-71. However, the actual result was a 3-point win for Middle Tennessee State, with a final score of 90-87. This prediction was off by 14.5 points, highlighting the unpredictability of college basketball. The CHD Scout model missed the strong performance of Middle Tennessee State's Sean Smith, who had 22 points and 5 assists. The model also underestimated the Blue Raiders' ability to maintain their scoring pace in the second half, with 45 points scored in each half.
The win for Middle Tennessee State improves their record to 12-12, with a NET ranking of 168. The loss for Kennesaw State drops their record to 14-10, with a NET ranking of 169. This game was a Quadrant 3 win for Middle Tennessee State and a Quadrant 4 loss for Kennesaw State. The Blue Raiders' resume now includes 2 Quadrant 1 wins, 4 Quadrant 2 wins, and 5 Quadrant 3 wins, with 4 Quadrant 4 losses. Kennesaw State's resume includes 1 Quadrant 1 win, 3 Quadrant 2 wins, and 6 Quadrant 3 wins, with 5 Quadrant 4 losses. The outcome of this game has real consequences for both teams' tournament hopes, with Middle Tennessee State looking to build on their momentum and Kennesaw State seeking to bounce back from the loss.
Middle Tennessee State's next game is against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on February 15, while Kennesaw State's next game is against the Liberty Flames on February 17. Both teams want to build on their performances in this game, with the Blue Raiders seeking to continue their winning ways and the Owls aiming to rebound from the tough loss.