HUNTSVILLE – It was a late night thriller Thursday at the Von Braun Center.
It wasn’t a movie, however, but a basketball game that saw Middle Tennessee State hold off Louisiana Tech 77-75 in double overtime of the Conference USA men’s basketball tournament quarterfinals.
With the win, No. 3 seed MTSU will take on No. 2 Jacksonville State today at 2 p.m.
“Shout out to our fans that came down (from Murfreesboro),” said Blue Raiders guard Jlynn Counter. “We had a really great crowd, and we appreciate them for staying up late, because I’m tired, and I know they’re tired for sure. But … we appreciate them, man. It was a hard fought win.”
In the first overtime game since 2022 in the CUSA Tournament, Jestin Porter scored a team-high 20 points for MTSU with 16 coming in the first half. Three other MTSU players finished in double figures including Counter who ended the night with 16 points, five assists and four rebounds. Essam Mostafa and Torey Alston each had 11 points and combined for 14 rebounds.
“Thanks for still being up late,” said Blue Raiders Head Coach Nick McDevitt. “I’m really proud of our team. I thought it was a tough team win, you know, obviously double overtime late at night.
“I was just happy with the way our guys kept believing we were going to win the game.”
Kennesaw State 80, New Mexico State 77
Junior guard Simeon Cottle tied his career-high with 32 points in a thrilling three-point win over New Mexico State. Cottle finished with four triples and a 12-14 mark at the free-throw line, while breaking his own record for most points scored in a conference tournament game by an Owl.
Braedan Lue recorded a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double along with four blocks. CUSA Freshman of the Year Adrian Wooley chipped in 17 points with four boards and four assists in the victory.
No. 4 Kennesaw State will play top-seeded Liberty at 11:30 a.m. in today’s first semifinal game.
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