MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee men's basketball once again needed five extra minutes in the Murphy Center but picked up their second overtime win of the season Tuesday night, sneaking past Missouri State 77-73 behind scrappy, opportunistic defense and some hot shotting from the outside.
The Blue Raiders (5-5) led by five at halftime after hitting seven three-pointers in the game's first 20 minutes, while holding the Bears (6-3) to just 23 shots in the half after turning Missouri State over eight times at the break. The visitors turned up the aggression in the second half, however, going to the foul line 13 times while making 12 attempts at the charity stripe to help power their way to tying the game late on a floater from Alston Mason after the Bears fouled MTSU seven times in nine seconds.