Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (22-10, 13-6 CUSA) vs. Jacksonville State Gamecocks (21-11, 13-6 CUSA)
Huntsville, Alabama; Friday, 3 p.m. EDT
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Gamecocks -1.5; over/under is 139.5
BOTTOM LINE: Jacksonville State plays in the CUSA Tournament against Middle Tennessee.
The Gamecocks have gone 13-6 against CUSA opponents, with an 8-5 record in non-conference play. Jacksonville State ranks third in the CUSA at limiting opponent scoring, giving up 68.3 points while holding opponents to 40.8% shooting.
The Blue Raiders are 13-6 against CUSA opponents. Middle Tennessee is sixth in the CUSA allowing 71.5 points while holding opponents to 42.2% shooting.
Jacksonville State averages 7.6 made 3-pointers per game, 1.0 more made shot than the 6.6 per game Middle Tennessee allows. Middle Tennessee has shot at a 45.2% clip from the field this season, 4.4 percentage points above the 40.8% shooting opponents of Jacksonville State have averaged.
The teams meet for the third time this season. Jacksonville State won 77-63 in the last matchup on Feb. 7. Jaron Pierre Jr. led Jacksonville State with 36 points, and Jestin Porter led Middle Tennessee with 17 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Mason Nicholson is averaging 7.5 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks for the Gamecocks. Pierre is averaging 24.8 points over the last 10 games.
Porter is shooting 36.1% from beyond the arc with 2.4 made 3-pointers per game for the Blue Raiders, while averaging 14.9 points. Essam Mostafa is averaging 15.3 points and 9.4 rebounds over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Gamecocks: 6-4, averaging 69.2 points, 32.5 rebounds, 9.8 assists, 6.0 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 40.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 67.4 points per game.
Blue Raiders: 7-3, averaging 75.7 points, 36.0 rebounds, 12.9 assists, 4.9 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 43.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 74.2 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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