MURFREESBORO, Tenn. --- Middle Tennessee ended the first half on a 21-6 run and went on to defeat the University of South Alabama men’s basketball team 81-54 Saturday night at the Murphy Center.

The setback puts the Jaguars’ record at 15-14 overall and 7-10 in the Sun Belt Conference. The Blue Raiders up their mark to 17-12 and 11-5.

“We’re just limited and this isn’t the time to be limited,” said USA head coach Ronnie Arrow. “When we substituted it went from a tie game to 11-points and we’re not getting anything out of our bench. We’ve started every game pretty well; we get tired and our substitutes have to give us more than what they’re giving us.”

USA’s bench was outscored 42-5 for the second straight game.

The Jaguars grabbed an early lead and led by as many as five points. Freshman Javier Carter (Dallas, Texas) made two baskets on consecutive trips down the floor for an 11-6 lead, and later, two free throws from freshman Martino Brock (Memphis, Tenn.) put the Jags up 13-8 with 12:37 to go before half.

A jumper from Brock and two made free throws from Carter gave South Alabama a 20-16 edge at the 7:16 mark of the first half. A dunk from J.T. Sulton on Middle Tennessee’s next trip down the floor started the game-changing 21-6 spurt as the Blue Raiders hit four 3-pointers and forced four USA turnovers and six missed shots in eight attempts in the final 6:50 of the first half.

Junior Tim Williams (Pontiac, Mich.) scored the first points of the second half, but that just set the table for another huge MTSU run. The Blue Raiders scored 19 of the next 25 points for a commanding 56-34 advantage.

“The games are beginning to be carbon-copies of one another,” said Arrow. “I don’t know what more to do. All 27 years of college coaching is coming out trying to figure this out. We’ve got to have guys that can go in there and get it done. We just don’t – we’re limited right now. Hopefully we’ll get Bryan (Sherrer) back for the tournament and that will give us a little more depth.”

Carter tied his career high with 12 points and added seven rebounds. Williams posted a game-high 17 points, 15 in the second half.

“Those two for the past few games have been doing a really good job,” said Arrow.

Brock was the only other Jaguar in double-digit scoring with 14.

Calvin O’Neil tallied a team-best 15 points for MTSU and Montarrio Haddock poured in 14 and seven rebounds. James Washington dished out seven assists.

South Alabama ends the regular season against Denver Thursday night at 7:05 p.m.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

NOTES: Middle Tennessee is just the second team to shoot 50% or better from the floor in each half against South Alabama this season (Georgia State)… USA lost the rebounding battle for the second straight game, 39-27… Ten different players scored for MTSU… Blue Raiders senior Desmond Yates was held to five points, 9.1 below his season average… He averaged 17.2 points in his previous five meetings with South Alabama… The Jags blocked five shots… Brock accounted for USA’s only 3-pointer.


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