Reggie Upshaw

After a convincing win against South Alabama on Dec. 5, the Blue Raiders looked poised to make it a December to remember.

Their next opponent was Auburn, a home game, albeit in a neutral site, at Bridgestone Arena, and it will be a game to remember and surely a reference point when the NCAA Tournament selection committee meets in March.

Coach Kermit Davis referred to it as “one of the best college games I’ve been a part of.” And he did not exaggerate.

Ed Simpson

From the tip, it was a high-energy game in which both teams played with great tenacity and physicality. However, Auburn held the edge going into the half as they led by nine. Yet, Davis’ halftime adjustments saw the Blue Raiders come out with ferocious intensity and tie the game up before four minutes had been played in the second half.

The most apparent adjustment made at halftime was the usage of Giddy Potts. Potts, MT’s leading scorer, started the game, but struggled early. When the clock started for the second half, Potts was on the bench with a surging Ed Simpson in his place. Potts could not have responded better. After a first half in which he seemed disengaged, Potts provided a great spark off the bench. In just 14 minutes, Potts scored 11 second-half points with many of those coming from the line.

In a second half that saw seven lead changes and seven tied scores, it was Middle that held the six point lead with just 2:24 remaining.

In steps Auburn guard Kareem Canty.

Canty drained four three-point baskets in the final two minutes of regulation, most of which were created on his own. With the clock winding down and Auburn down by three, everyone in Bridgestone knew who was shooting Auburn’s final shot of regulation. It didn’t matter, however, as Canty hit what would qualify as a circus shot to send the game to overtime.

MT outlasted the Tigers, as it was all Blue Raiders from the 2:42 mark of overtime to the final buzzer.

Giddy Potts

Despite astounding performances from Potts and Canty, it was Reggie Upshaw who was the star of this game. Although he was matched-up against a much larger and extremely physical player in Cinmeon Bowers (6 feet 7 inches, 280 pounds), it was Upshaw who proved to be the more physical player. Reggie finished with 21 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and no turnovers.

“That was probably one of the toughest games I’ve played in since I’ve been in college. Their post players are physical and big, so anytime you have to battle those guys for the whole [game], it’s going to be a battle and probably the toughest game you’ll ever play,” Upshaw said.

The Blue Raiders returned to Murphy Center five days later for what was expected to be another big test, as Belmont came to visit. However, Middle Tennessee was on another plane that night. After taking the lead with 14 minutes remaining in the first half, MT never reliquished it and continued to build upon it.

With just under six minutes remaining in the game, MT led by 25 points. While they easily could have won by 30 or more that night, Coach Davis took his foot off the pedal. MT closed out the win 83-62.

Perhaps most impressive about the performance was the fact it was achieved without the typical production of Upshaw. Reggie was limited to only 20 minutes in the game due to foul trouble.

In his stead, MT received major contributions from Perrin Buford and Giddy Potts.

Buford’s athleticism proved far too much for Belmont as he was dominant near the basket whether it be on the low block or driving from the perimeter. Buford also set a career high in three-point field goals as he drained his two attempts. Buford referred to his shooting as a “hidden secret” after the game.

Potts remained in the sixth-man role he played in the second half of the Auburn game. He scored 15 points and pulled down six rebounds in just 22 minutes of play. When asked if he was better suited as the sixth man, Potts responded, “It’s just whatever Coach wants. I will do anything Coach tells me to do. If he wants me to come off the bench, I’ll come off the bench and provide a spark for the team.”

Unfortunately, it would be the last time Potts was able to contribute in December, as he is dealing with an unspecified academic issue. As the next two games proved, his production has been missed.
The Blue Raiders traveled to Atlanta to play last March’s Cinderella story, Georgia State. Much like the Auburn game, it was another hard-fought battle with multiple lead changes and runs.

Darnell Harris

With 47 seconds remaining, GSU held a five-point lead. Perrin Buford got to the foul line to bring it within three however, and a Darnell Harris three-pointer tied the game with 14 seconds remaining.

Still, GSU regained the lead with a pair of their own free throws, and Jacob Ivory missed the buzzer beater shot in his only attempt of the game to give the Panthers the win.

Upshaw and Harris each had 18 points for the Blue Raiders, but the absence of Potts’ spark off the bench was strongly felt. No other MT player scored in double figures.

A road game against South Dakota State, a top 50 RPI team, was next on the schedule for MT. It got ugly early, as MT found themselves trailing 10–0 three minutes into the game, but the Blue Raiders fought back hard. Upshaw accounted for nine of MT’s first 11 points and they went into the half with a 31–27 lead.

However, MT lost that lead five minutes into the second half and never regained it. The Jackrabbits came away with the 65–61 win.

SDSU was far too dominant on the glass in the second half. The Jackrabbits out-rebounded the Blue Raiders 29–12 in the second half alone. What stood out the most was the 15–5 advantage MT allowed SDSU on the offensive glass.

After hitting a two-game losing streak, the Blue Raiders needed a confidence boost before conference play began. They got that boost Dec. 30 against Trevecca.

Reggie Upshaw

Trevecca scored the first basket of the game, but it would be the only time they led throughout the contest. MT led by as much as 23 in the first half, but Trevecca trimmed that lead to 13 by halftime, then to five at the 12-minute mark of the second half.

Recognizing their complacency after gaining a big lead, the Blue Raiders cranked up the intensity to go up by as much as 20 in the second half before giving the starters a rest late. MT closed out the victory, 82–67.

Reggie Upshaw had a career night, scoring 32 points and collecting 12 rebounds. Astonishingly he did so with a 10-minute span between shot attempts in the middle of the game. The efficiency with which he scored should also be recognized, as he achieved his career high in points by missing only three of his 16 shots.

MT will tip-off their conference schedule Jan. 3 in Birmingham where they will play the UAB Blazers. Home games in January include contests against UTEP on Jan. 7, UTSA on Jan. 9, North Texas on Jan. 21 and Rice on Jan. 23.