MTSU defeats Kennesaw St 68-67

MTSU Edges Kennesaw St in Thrilling 68-67 Win at Murphy Center

In a back-and-forth battle that came down to the wire, the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders (MTSU) outlasted their Conference opponent, Kennesaw State Owls, by just one point, winning 68-67 at their home venue, Murphy Center.

The game's turning point came in the second half when MTSU extended its lead from seven points to 14 with less than four minutes remaining. However, Kennesaw St narrowed it back down to two points after a pair of three-pointers. The Owls' Braedan Lue led their team with 20 points on the night.

The Blue Raiders, who played at home, had their best shooting performances from both inside and outside the arc. Kamari Lands was the standout for MTSU, scoring 24 points while also grabbing nine rebounds. Sean Smith provided four assists in addition to his six points.

MTSU's strong rebounding effort contributed significantly to their win, as they outrebounded Kennesaw St by five. The Blue Raiders shot 34% from the field and hit on 75% of their free throws, a testament to their ability to capitalize when it mattered most.

The game statistics show that MTSU dominated in terms of field goal percentage (39.3%) compared to their opponents' 38.9%. However, Kennesaw St's true shooting percentage was higher at 46.1%, indicating the Owls were able to make more efficient shots overall.

Despite the narrow margin of victory, this win is significant for MTSU as it marks a crucial Conference triumph. The Blue Raiders will look to maintain their momentum in the coming weeks, while Kennesaw St will need to regroup and find ways to overcome challenges on both ends of the court.