MURFREESBORO, Tenn.,
- Middle Tennessee had five players
reach double digits in scoring during a
99-60 victory over North Alabama Monday
evening in men’s basketball exhibition
play. The Blue Raiders held a 52-35 lead
at the half and shot 56 percent from the
floor over the final 20 minutes to
secure the home victory.
Rory Miller had 17 points to lead UNA.
Eric Wormely and Jared Strode added 10
points each as the Lions wrapped up
exhibition play and prepare for their
season opener Sunday against Christian
Brothers.
A lay-up by Miller gave North Alabama a
17-13 lead with 13:40 remaining in the
opening half. The Blue Raiders, however,
responded with a 20-5 run to go ahead
33-22 at the 7:16 mark. A three-point
basket by Daviel Clements cut the lead
to 33-25, but MTSU countered with a
three-pointer by J.T. Sulton and the
Lions could never get the deficit to
single digits again.
Sulton finished with 17 points for
Middle Tennessee while the Blue Raiders’
Montarrio Haddock led all scorers with
25 points on the night.
Sunday’s season-opener against CBU will
feature the last two teams to win the
NCAA Division II South Region
Tournament. After UNA won the regional
in 2008, Christian Brothers became the
second straight Gulf South Conference
team to advance to the Elite Eight last
season. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. at
Flowers Hall.
