BASKETBALL Middle Tennessee (9-4, 0-0) @ FIU (6-7, 0-0) (ESPN+), 6PM, Thursday, January 2, 2025

[SpaceRaider]

at FIU
1/2/2025 | 6 p.m.

WGNS (101.9 FM | 1450 AM | 100.5 FM)

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[SpaceRaider]

67.7%

-4.5
-105

 

[SpaceRaider]

Men’s Basketball Hosts Middle Tennessee to Open Conference USA Play Thursday Night - FIU Athletics

MIAMI — FIU's men's basketball program gears up for its Conference USA (CUSA) slate in 2025, welcoming Middle Tennessee to the Ocean Bank Convocation Center on Thursday

fiusports.com

 

[SpaceRaider]

NET: MT #118 fiu #249

KenPom MT #129 fiu #250

RPI MT #62 fiu # 340 SOS (MT 68, fiu 357)

Massey Composite MT #111 fiu #281

 

[SpaceRaider]

Blue Raiders prepped to open CUSA play at FIU - Middle Tennessee State University Athletics

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Middle Tennessee men's basketball team is set to open the Conference USA slate on the road, when it travels to Miami, Fla., to take on

goblueraiders.com

 

[MTFAN61]

Very important game for building momentum the second half of the season. Can't afford to overlook FIU with Liberty next up on this road trip. Let's take care of business tonight then turn attention to Lynchburg.
Important key for this trip. Make sure Counter is properly hydrated prior to game time. No more late game leg cramps! MT is a different team with a healthy Counter on the floor.

 

[sWiley]

looking awful to start....

Was hoping we would see some sense of urgency and authority to start the CUSA slate considering the experience and seniority on this team....

Guess not

 

[sWiley]

getting boatraced by a NET 250 team

fantastic

 

[altshauf]

Not unexpected starting slow after the layover. Rims look TIGHT too. Doesn’t help.

 

[sWiley]

Absolute and total phantom call on the 3 point shot, Counter was never touched, but we'll take any gift we can get. Great job acting like he got hit in the head there, very senior and experienced acting there.

Suck it FIU

 

[altshauf]

Ugly win > pretty loss

 

[sWiley]

Great fortitude tonight. FIU was hitting some wild, borderline BS baskets. Nice to see us fight through it.

Huge game @ Liberty. Just hoping we can compete honestly. Liberty is looking notably better than anyone else in the league thus far.

And just as I say this, WKU has hung 50 on them in the second half up 1 with 5 seconds left. Sheesh. Liberty gonna be out for blood if they lose tonight.


edit: And down goes Liberty. Wow!

 

[altshauf]

Added, this game was EXTREMELY PHYSICAL with a ton of no calls at the rim. Wild.

 

[altshauf]

Western just beat liberty. Outscored them by 15 in the second half. Wondering if they have found a recipe to share with us?

 

[MTFAN61]

Check out FIU's schedule. 6-8 now, but their losses all been very competitive against a decent schedule. FAU, ECU, Rice, & FGCU for example. Tough game tonight. Tougher one Saturday as WKU stuns Liberty in Lynchburg 71-70

 

[MTFAN61]

Incredible bounce back for Western after getting destroyed by Michigan. Had trailed by 16 in the 1st half against Liberty.

 

[MTFAN61]

Caught the 2nd half. Announcer alluded to Lands & Oglesby not being available. Are both out with injuries?

 

[SpaceRaider]

Blue Raiders tops FIU 73-69 in Conference USA opener - Middle Tennessee State University Athletics

Miami, Fla.. — Middle Tennessee men's basketball secures its first win of Conference USA play vs the FIU Panthers 73-69 on Thursday night in the first game of 2025.

goblueraiders.com

 

[ewglenn]

It is worth noting Liberty is without star forward Isaiah Ihnen for the rest of the season due to injury.

 

[TrueBlue147]

It's always tough to win at FIU. The gym is always empty and being right after Christmas break made it even tougher. That was a good win.

 

[crposton]

Liberty went 12-1 vs a non conference SOS of 269. We went 9-4 vs a non conference SOS of 122. I would like to think we would have gone 12-1/11-2 vs their schedule.

 

[SpaceRaider]

 

[MTLynn]

good win

 

[ewglenn]

Any time you can get a road win in conference that is a good day. Those are hard to come by.

 

[BruiserINT]

anyone know what was up with Lands?

 

[MTFAN61]

anyone know what was up with Lands?

After the game I streamed Chip's broadcast. During pregame with CNM they said Lands had a 1st half injury against Tennessee, but kept playing. Not season ending, but will be some time before returning. On better note said Oglesby injury not as serious & should be back soon. No specific date was given for Lands however.