MTSU thumps FAU on Senior Saturday 79-59

The Blue Raiders (13-16, 8-10) honored their seniors in style with an easy 79-59 victory over the Florida Atlantic Owls (15-14, 10-8).

The Raiders put up a hefty 79 points against the Owls, and for better parts of the second half ran a clinical display of a pressure defense, and a superb transition game.

The Owls managed to keep the game close in the first half, going into the break down by eight, 36-28. However, they were utterly unprepared for what Middle Tennessee was going to unveil in the second half.

If there’s another basketball coach who wants to teach his team to play pressure defense, he should invest in game tape from the Blue Raiders. MT punished the Owls by running them up and down the floor, pick pocketing the FAU guards, and generally being nuisances. That effort helped to produce one of Middle’s finer offensive nights.

Calvin O’Neil and senior Tim Blue lead MT’s scoring with 15 and 14 points respectively. Nigel Johnson and Desmond Yates also contributed double digits in points, combining for 21 points. Johnson really turned the heat on by only shooting three point shots, and sinking three of the four attempted, as well as hitting both free throws he was awarded.

Kevin Kanaskie, point guard and super-sophomore contributed 11 assists, and 7 points, moving him further ahead in the all time record books.

Crowd favorite Kyle Young finished the game with 8 points and a rebound, but had trouble with personal fouls, eventually leaving the game after accruing 5 fouls.

Both senior players, Blue and Young were given standing ovations when they left the game, a sign of appreciation from the crowd.

As the second half ground on, and it became more and more obvious that Middle Tennessee had a victory in the bag, it became time to win with style points as well as the score. Middle won on that front as well, humbling the Owls who never seemed to muster much energy, or excitement.

Middle Tennessee now has a chance to host a first round game in the Sun Belt tournament. Depending on the outcomes of other games Saturday, Middle will potentially have to play again Feb. 28 to get into the tournament. Until then, remember how good it feels to leave the Murphy Center as the pep band belts out “Alma Mater”, and every blue clad face is smiling.