NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A second-half surge sent the Middle Tennessee men’s basketball team to another win against a Southeastern Conference opponent.
The Blue Raiders (7-1) erased a first-half deficit by opening the second half with an 8-0 spurt and never trailed Ole Miss again Saturday night.
Nick King scored 25 points and Brandon Walters added a career-high 20 as Middle Tennessee won its fifth straight with a 77-58 victory against Ole Miss.
“I thought the key was really the first four minutes of the second half,” MTSU coach Kermit Davis said. “I thought our team started sharing the ball more. We finally got into rhythm.”
Middle Tennessee improved to 7-0 against SEC and Big 10 opponents since 2015.
Walters was 8-for-11 from the field and all four of his foul shots. The 6-foot-10 forward from Chattanooga blocked four shots and made four steals in 34 minutes — all career highs.
“Since last year, he’s lost 18 more pounds,” Davis said. “He’s in great shape. He played behind Reggie (Upshaw) and JaCorey (Williams) and now you just see him kind of blossom.”
Blue Raiders point guard Tyrik Dixon, limited to six minutes due to a bone bruise in his knee in Wednesday’s win at Vanderbilt, had a career-high nine assists and no turnovers.
“Coach always preaches to us about being a national team,” said King, an Alabama transfer. “We’re getting the opportunity and we’re taking advantage of it every single game. As a mid-major, we’ve got to have that edge every single day and we can’t lose it, and I think that’s what’s keeping us ahead of the SEC teams.”
Middle Tennessee improved to 6-3 against Ole Miss.
Marcanvis Hymon led Ole Miss (4-4) with 12 points. Ole Miss’ Bruce Stevens and Terence Davis added 10 points each.
The Rebels lost their third-consecutive game, including two overtime setbacks.
Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy didn’t attend the postgame press conference. The Rebels got outscored 44-24 in the second half as a 34-33 first-half lead disappeared quickly.
Middle Tennessee’s 1-3-1 zone defense held Ole Miss to a season-low 58 points. Ole Miss’ offense entered the game ranked fourth in the SEC (83.7 points per game). “The biggest thing you’ve got to do to Ole Miss is you’ve got to get back,” Davis said. “If those guards get it in transition off your live-ball turnovers, they’re great in transition.” MTSU made just six turnovers.
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