Spring Break
NT cruises to 66-53 win
Michael Prescott
Issue date: 1/26/07 Section: NEWS
The Mean Green men's basketball team defeated the Middle Tennessee State University Blue Raiders 66-53 Thursday night in the Super Pit.
NT (14-7, 5-4) took the lead early jumping out to a 4-0 lead only at 1:09 into the game, and never looked back as they would go on to hand the Blue Raiders (9-11, 5-5) their first road conference-loss of the season.
"I thought our guys came out and played hard from start to finish," said head coach Johnny Jones. "They are a very good defensive team and held us down in the first half, but our guys came out in the second half and knocked down some shots."
Junior forward Quincy Williams and senior guard Kendrick Davis led the Mean Green to extend its lead to 10 points before the Blue Raiders cut the lead to five points on a 3-pointer from MTSU guard Kevin Kanaskie going into the half.
In the second half, senior guard Calvin Watson hit his third of five 3-pointers in the game, putting NT up 30-22 with19:37 left on the clock. Watson finished the game leading all scores with 21 points.
"When my teammates see that I am in that rhythm they look for me and I try my best to get open and make the shot," Watson said. "We just tried to spread the ball and everything worked out good."
The Blue Raiders battled back into the game coming within two points with 13:10 left on the clock, but junior guard Michael Sturns nailed his only 3-pointer to put the Mean Green back up by five. NT outscored MTSU 39-31 in the second half as it went on to record its 14th win of the season.
"We know we are a good enough shooting team that we can get things done offensively," Sturns said. "We feel if we can lock down on defense, that will create our offense."
After tying its win total from last year with Thursday's victory over the Blue Raiders, the Mean Green will travel to Mobile, Ala., to take on the South Alabama University Jaguars Sunday at the Mitchell Center.
"I think we have to continue to focus," Jones said. "South Alabama is a good, very tough place to play. We're going to have to go in there and play like we did tonight."
NT (14-7, 5-4) took the lead early jumping out to a 4-0 lead only at 1:09 into the game, and never looked back as they would go on to hand the Blue Raiders (9-11, 5-5) their first road conference-loss of the season.
"I thought our guys came out and played hard from start to finish," said head coach Johnny Jones. "They are a very good defensive team and held us down in the first half, but our guys came out in the second half and knocked down some shots."
Junior forward Quincy Williams and senior guard Kendrick Davis led the Mean Green to extend its lead to 10 points before the Blue Raiders cut the lead to five points on a 3-pointer from MTSU guard Kevin Kanaskie going into the half.
In the second half, senior guard Calvin Watson hit his third of five 3-pointers in the game, putting NT up 30-22 with19:37 left on the clock. Watson finished the game leading all scores with 21 points.
"When my teammates see that I am in that rhythm they look for me and I try my best to get open and make the shot," Watson said. "We just tried to spread the ball and everything worked out good."
The Blue Raiders battled back into the game coming within two points with 13:10 left on the clock, but junior guard Michael Sturns nailed his only 3-pointer to put the Mean Green back up by five. NT outscored MTSU 39-31 in the second half as it went on to record its 14th win of the season.
"We know we are a good enough shooting team that we can get things done offensively," Sturns said. "We feel if we can lock down on defense, that will create our offense."
After tying its win total from last year with Thursday's victory over the Blue Raiders, the Mean Green will travel to Mobile, Ala., to take on the South Alabama University Jaguars Sunday at the Mitchell Center.
"I think we have to continue to focus," Jones said. "South Alabama is a good, very tough place to play. We're going to have to go in there and play like we did tonight."
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