JAXST

MTSU

Preview not available

Middle Tennessee wins 81-64 over Jacksonville State

AP
Jan 11, 2025

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) Jestin Porter had 29 points in Middle Tennessee's 81-64 win over Jacksonville State on Saturday night.

Porter also had four steals for the Blue Raiders (12-5, 3-1 Conference USA). Essam Mostafa added 22 points while shooting 10 of 12 from the field and 2 for 3 from the line while he also had nine rebounds. Torey Alston shot 5 of 6 from the field and 1 of 5 from the free-throw line to finish with 11 points.

The Gamecocks (9-7, 1-2) were led in scoring by Jaron Pierre Jr., who finished with 22 points, nine rebounds and two blocks. Jacksonville State also got 11 points and 10 rebounds from Michael Houge. Marcellus Brigham Jr. had nine points and three steals.

Middle Tennessee took the lead with 19:48 left in the first half and did not give it up. The score was 37-27 at halftime, with Porter racking up 14 points. Porter scored 15 points in the second half to help lead the way as Middle Tennessee went on to secure a victory, outscoring Jacksonville State by seven points in the second half.

Middle Tennessee takes on Western Kentucky at home on Saturday, and Jacksonville State hosts Louisiana Tech on Thursday.

---

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

1st Half
JVST
Gamecocks
27
MTSU
Blue Raiders
37

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Mason Nicholson vs. Essam Mostafa (Jlynn Counter gains possession)
19:48	+2	Jlynn Counter makes two point layup	0-2
19:26		Mason Nicholson misses two point jump shot
19:24		Jaron Pierre Jr. offensive rebound
19:14		Jaron Pierre Jr. misses two point layup
19:12		Essam Mostafa defensive rebound
19:00	+3	Jestin Porter makes three point jump shot (Torey Alston assists)	0-5
18:26	+2	Marcellus Brigham Jr. makes two point jump shot	2-5
18:03	+2	Essam Mostafa makes two point jump shot	2-7
17:45		Jaron Pierre Jr. misses two point jump shot
17:43		Essam Mostafa defensive rebound
17:34	+2	Essam Mostafa makes two point layup (Jlynn Counter assists)	2-9
17:10		Koree Cotton misses two point jump shot
17:08		Torey Alston defensive rebound
17:00	+3	Justin Bufford makes three point jump shot (Jlynn Counter assists)	2-12
16:31		Jaron Pierre Jr. misses three point jump shot
16:29		Jlynn Counter defensive rebound
16:22		Jestin Porter misses three point jump shot
16:20		Jaron Pierre Jr. defensive rebound
16:08	+2	Mason Nicholson makes two point dunk (Jaron Pierre Jr. assists)	4-12
15:55		Justin Bufford misses three point jump shot
15:53		Jaron Pierre Jr. defensive rebound
15:42		Marcellus Brigham Jr. misses three point jump shot
15:40		Mason Nicholson offensive rebound
15:32		Jaron Pierre Jr. misses three point jump shot
15:30		Justin Bufford defensive rebound
15:21	+3	Jlynn Counter makes three point jump shot (Jestin Porter assists)	4-15
15:19		Gamecocks 30 second timeout
15:19		TV timeout
15:06	+2	Iaroslav Niagu makes two point jump shot (Quel'Ron House assists)	6-15
14:52	+2	Essam Mostafa makes two point jump shot (Jlynn Counter assists)	6-17
14:35		Quel'Ron House misses two point jump shot
14:33		Michael Houge offensive rebound
14:24		Michael Houge misses two point layup
14:22		Tre Green defensive rebound
14:13	+2	Jestin Porter makes two point layup	6-19
13:56		Jao Ituka turnover (bad pass) (Tre Green steals)
13:44		Justin Bufford misses two point layup
13:42		Gamecocks defensive rebound
13:26		Iaroslav Niagu turnover (bad pass) (Jestin Porter steals)
13:22		Jestin Porter misses two point layup
13:20		Blue Raiders offensive rebound
13:05	+3	Jestin Porter makes three point jump shot (Essam Mostafa assists)	6-22
12:53		Gamecocks 30 second timeout
12:36		Chris Loofe personal foul
12:28		Koree Cotton turnover (bad pass) (Camryn Weston steals)
12:06		Blue Raiders turnover (shot clock violation)
11:47		Jaron Pierre Jr. misses three point jump shot
11:45		Jlynn Counter defensive rebound
11:39		Camryn Weston turnover (bad pass)
11:39		TV timeout
11:25	+2	Mason Nicholson makes two point jump shot	8-22
11:15		Jlynn Counter misses three point jump shot
11:13		Mason Nicholson defensive rebound
11:05		Camryn Weston blocks Jaron Pierre Jr.'s two point layup
11:03		Justin Bufford defensive rebound
11:03		Mason Nicholson personal foul
10:53	+2	Torey Alston makes two point jump shot	8-24
10:30		Jlynn Counter personal foul
10:21		Jaron Pierre Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Jlynn Counter steals)
10:16		Chris Loofe turnover (lost ball) (Marcellus Brigham Jr. steals)
9:58		Koree Cotton turnover (lost ball) (Camryn Weston steals)
9:53		Chris Loofe turnover (lost ball)
9:26	+2	Mason Nicholson makes two point jump shot	10-24
9:11		Jaron Pierre Jr. blocks Jestin Porter's two point layup
9:09		Camryn Weston offensive rebound
9:06		Jestin Porter misses three point jump shot
9:04		Michael Houge defensive rebound
9:00	+2	Mason Nicholson makes two point dunk	12-24
8:58		Blue Raiders 30 second timeout
8:47	+2	Essam Mostafa makes two point layup (Jlynn Counter assists)	12-26
8:23		Jaron Pierre Jr. misses two point jump shot
8:21		Michael Houge offensive rebound
8:12		Michael Houge misses two point jump shot
8:10		Michael Houge offensive rebound
8:08		Camryn Weston shooting foul (Michael Houge draws the foul)
8:08	+1	Michael Houge makes regular free throw 1 of 2	13-26
8:08	+1	Michael Houge makes regular free throw 2 of 2	14-26
7:50		Jlynn Counter misses three point jump shot
7:48		Jaron Pierre Jr. defensive rebound
7:36		Camryn Weston personal foul
7:36		TV timeout
7:30	+2	Michael Houge makes two point dunk (Quel'Ron House assists)	16-26
7:22	+2	Essam Mostafa makes two point layup (Justin Bufford assists)	16-28
7:00		Marcellus Brigham Jr. turnover (lost ball)
6:34		Torey Alston misses two point layup
6:32		Mason Nicholson defensive rebound
6:28	+2	Michael Houge makes two point dunk (Koree Cotton assists)	18-28
6:17		Justin Bufford misses three point jump shot
6:15		Essam Mostafa offensive rebound
6:09	+2	Essam Mostafa makes two point layup	18-30
5:58		Koree Cotton misses three point jump shot
5:56		Blue Raiders defensive rebound
5:43		Jaron Pierre Jr. shooting foul (Jestin Porter draws the foul)
5:43	+1	Jestin Porter makes regular free throw 1 of 3	18-31
5:43	+1	Jestin Porter makes regular free throw 2 of 3	18-32
5:43	+1	Jestin Porter makes regular free throw 3 of 3	18-33
5:26		Quel'Ron House misses two point jump shot
5:24		Essam Mostafa defensive rebound
5:11		Essam Mostafa misses two point jump shot
5:09		Torey Alston offensive rebound
5:05		Torey Alston turnover (lost ball) (Marcellus Brigham Jr. steals)
4:50		Marcellus Brigham Jr. misses two point jump shot
4:48		Michael Houge offensive rebound
4:45	+2	Michael Houge makes two point layup	20-33
4:11		Iaroslav Niagu shooting foul (Torey Alston draws the foul)
4:11		Torey Alston misses regular free throw 1 of 2
4:11		Torey Alston misses regular free throw 2 of 2
4:11		Koree Cotton defensive rebound
3:52	+2	Michael Houge makes two point jump shot (Quel'Ron House assists)	22-33
3:32		Torey Alston turnover (lost ball) (Quel'Ron House steals)
3:26		Jlynn Counter blocks Quel'Ron House's two point layup
3:26		Quel'Ron House offensive rebound
3:26		TV timeout
3:25		Marcellus Brigham Jr. offensive foul
3:25		Marcellus Brigham Jr. turnover (offensive foul)
3:00		Justin Bufford turnover (bad pass) (Mason Nicholson steals)
2:58		Koree Cotton turnover (bad pass) (Jestin Porter steals)
2:58		Marcellus Brigham Jr. personal foul
2:41	+3	Jestin Porter makes three point jump shot (Justin Bufford assists)	22-36
2:32		Jlynn Counter shooting foul (Koree Cotton draws the foul)
2:32	+1	Koree Cotton makes regular free throw 1 of 2	23-36
2:32	+1	Koree Cotton makes regular free throw 2 of 2	24-36
2:05		Jaron Pierre Jr. blocks Camryn Weston's two point layup
2:03		Koree Cotton defensive rebound
1:59		Koree Cotton misses two point layup
1:57		Jestin Porter defensive rebound
1:54		Jaron Pierre Jr. shooting foul (Essam Mostafa draws the foul)
1:54		Essam Mostafa misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:54	+1	Essam Mostafa makes regular free throw 2 of 2	24-37
1:43		Quel'Ron House misses two point layup
1:41		Blue Raiders defensive rebound
1:17		Jestin Porter misses three point jump shot
1:15		Michael Houge defensive rebound
1:10	+3	Jaron Pierre Jr. makes three point jump shot (Quel'Ron House assists)	27-37
0:22		Camryn Weston misses three point jump shot
0:20		Marcellus Brigham Jr. defensive rebound
0:16		Michael Houge misses two point jump shot
0:14		Essam Mostafa defensive rebound
0:02		Camryn Weston misses three point jump shot
0:00		Gamecocks defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
JVST
Gamecocks
37
MTSU
Blue Raiders
44

Time		Play	Score
19:51	+2	Jaron Pierre Jr. makes two point layup	29-37
19:38	+2	Essam Mostafa makes two point layup (Jlynn Counter assists)	29-39
19:22	+3	Jaron Pierre Jr. makes three point jump shot (Quel'Ron House assists)	32-39
19:10		Jlynn Counter misses two point jump shot
19:08		Jaron Pierre Jr. defensive rebound
18:55		Quel'Ron House turnover (lost ball) (Essam Mostafa steals)
18:34		Justin Bufford misses three point jump shot
18:32		Marcellus Brigham Jr. defensive rebound
18:08	+3	Koree Cotton makes three point jump shot (Jaron Pierre Jr. assists)	35-39
17:49	+3	Jestin Porter makes three point jump shot (Jlynn Counter assists)	35-42
17:47		Blue Raiders 30 second timeout
17:47		TV timeout
17:26		Jaron Pierre Jr. misses two point layup
17:24		Justin Bufford defensive rebound
17:07		Essam Mostafa misses two point jump shot
17:05		Koree Cotton defensive rebound
16:51		Quel'Ron House misses two point layup
16:49		Jestin Porter defensive rebound
16:15		Jestin Porter misses three point jump shot
16:13		Torey Alston offensive rebound
16:08	+2	Torey Alston makes two point dunk	35-44
16:00	+2	Jaron Pierre Jr. makes two point jump shot	37-44
15:54	+2	Essam Mostafa makes two point layup	37-46
15:47		Jaron Pierre Jr. misses three point jump shot
15:45		Koree Cotton offensive rebound
15:39		Iaroslav Niagu turnover (lost ball)
15:39		TV timeout
15:26		Jlynn Counter turnover (bad pass)
15:11		Essam Mostafa shooting foul (Michael Houge draws the foul)
15:11		Michael Houge misses regular free throw 1 of 2
15:11	+1	Michael Houge makes regular free throw 2 of 2	38-46
14:52	+3	Jestin Porter makes three point jump shot (Justin Bufford assists)	38-49
14:31		Torey Alston blocks Michael Houge's two point layup
14:29		Marcellus Brigham Jr. offensive rebound
14:28		Torey Alston shooting foul (Marcellus Brigham Jr. draws the foul)
14:28	+1	Marcellus Brigham Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2	39-49
14:28	+1	Marcellus Brigham Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	40-49
14:20	+2	Essam Mostafa makes two point layup (Torey Alston assists)	40-51
14:17		Jao Ituka turnover (out of bounds)
13:59		Koree Cotton blocks Jestin Porter's two point layup
13:57		Justin Bufford offensive rebound
13:55		Justin Bufford misses three point jump shot
13:53		Torey Alston offensive rebound
13:42		Jestin Porter misses three point jump shot
13:40		Justin Bufford offensive rebound
13:39		Jao Ituka shooting foul (Justin Bufford draws the foul)
13:39	+1	Justin Bufford makes regular free throw 1 of 2	40-52
13:39		Justin Bufford misses regular free throw 2 of 2
13:39		Michael Houge defensive rebound
13:25		Jaron Pierre Jr. misses two point jump shot
13:23		Justin Bufford defensive rebound
13:11		Jlynn Counter misses three point jump shot
13:09		Justin Bufford offensive rebound
12:53	+2	Jestin Porter makes two point layup	40-54
12:33		Jao Ituka misses three point jump shot
12:31		Jlynn Counter defensive rebound
12:25		Marcellus Brigham Jr. personal foul
12:24	+2	Torey Alston makes two point layup (Jlynn Counter assists)	40-56
12:24		Koree Cotton shooting foul (Torey Alston draws the foul)
12:24		Torey Alston misses regular free throw 1 of 1
12:24		Michael Houge defensive rebound
12:13	+2	Iaroslav Niagu makes two point layup (Jaron Pierre Jr. assists)	42-56
12:13		Chris Loofe shooting foul (Iaroslav Niagu draws the foul)
12:13	+1	Iaroslav Niagu makes regular free throw 1 of 1	43-56
11:59		Michael Houge shooting foul (Chris Loofe draws the foul)
11:59		TV timeout
11:59	+1	Chris Loofe makes regular free throw 1 of 2	43-57
11:59	+1	Chris Loofe makes regular free throw 2 of 2	43-58
11:46		Jaron Pierre Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Jlynn Counter steals)
11:38	+2	Tre Green makes two point layup (Jlynn Counter assists)	43-60
11:29		Koree Cotton misses three point jump shot
11:27		Chris Loofe defensive rebound
11:20		Chris Loofe turnover (traveling)
11:04		Michael Houge turnover (lost ball) (Jestin Porter steals)
11:01		Jaron Pierre Jr. shooting foul (Torey Alston draws the foul)
11:01		Torey Alston misses regular free throw 1 of 2
11:01	+1	Torey Alston makes regular free throw 2 of 2	43-61
10:38		Quel'Ron House turnover (traveling)
10:23		Chris Loofe misses three point jump shot
10:21		Michael Houge defensive rebound
10:06		Torey Alston personal foul (Iaroslav Niagu draws the foul)
9:55		Chris Loofe shooting foul (Iaroslav Niagu draws the foul)
9:55	+1	Iaroslav Niagu makes regular free throw 1 of 2	44-61
9:55	+1	Iaroslav Niagu makes regular free throw 2 of 2	45-61
9:44		Iaroslav Niagu shooting foul (Tre Green draws the foul)
9:44	+1	Tre Green makes regular free throw 1 of 2	45-62
9:44	+1	Tre Green makes regular free throw 2 of 2	45-63
9:29		Tre Green personal foul
9:15	+2	Jaron Pierre Jr. makes two point dunk	47-63
8:45		Michael Houge blocks Tre Green's two point layup
8:43		Blue Raiders offensive rebound
8:40		Jestin Porter misses three point jump shot
8:38		Jaron Pierre Jr. defensive rebound
8:27	+2	Jaron Pierre Jr. makes two point jump shot	49-63
8:03	+3	Jestin Porter makes three point jump shot	49-66
7:36	+2	Marcellus Brigham Jr. makes two point layup	51-66
7:20		Jestin Porter misses three point jump shot
7:18		Jaron Pierre Jr. defensive rebound
7:04	+3	Jaron Pierre Jr. makes three point jump shot (Iaroslav Niagu assists)	54-66
6:42		Essam Mostafa turnover (bad pass)
6:42		TV timeout
6:38		Jestin Porter personal foul (Koree Cotton draws the foul)
6:38	+1	Koree Cotton makes regular free throw 1 of 2	55-66
6:38	+1	Koree Cotton makes regular free throw 2 of 2	56-66
6:22		Jestin Porter misses three point jump shot
6:20		Iaroslav Niagu defensive rebound
6:19		Essam Mostafa personal foul (Iaroslav Niagu draws the foul)
6:19		Iaroslav Niagu misses regular free throw 1 of 1
6:19		Torey Alston defensive rebound
5:51		Jaron Pierre Jr. shooting foul (Jlynn Counter draws the foul)
5:51	+1	Jlynn Counter makes regular free throw 1 of 2	56-67
5:51	+1	Jlynn Counter makes regular free throw 2 of 2	56-68
5:33	+2	Jaron Pierre Jr. makes two point layup	58-68
5:33		Jestin Porter shooting foul (Jaron Pierre Jr. draws the foul)
5:33	+1	Jaron Pierre Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 1	59-68
5:14		Jlynn Counter misses two point jump shot
5:12		Jaron Pierre Jr. defensive rebound
5:10		Michael Houge turnover (lost ball) (Jlynn Counter steals)
5:01		Torey Alston turnover (lost ball)
4:51		Camryn Weston shooting foul (Jaron Pierre Jr. draws the foul)
4:51		Jaron Pierre Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2
4:51		Jaron Pierre Jr. misses regular free throw 2 of 2
4:51		Iaroslav Niagu offensive rebound
4:46		Koree Cotton misses two point jump shot
4:44		Marcellus Brigham Jr. offensive rebound
4:44		Marcellus Brigham Jr. misses two point layup
4:42		Iaroslav Niagu offensive rebound
4:42		Essam Mostafa shooting foul (Marcellus Brigham Jr. draws the foul)
4:42	+1	Marcellus Brigham Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2	60-68
4:42		Marcellus Brigham Jr. misses regular free throw 2 of 2
4:42		Torey Alston defensive rebound
4:07		Justin Bufford misses two point layup
4:05		Essam Mostafa offensive rebound
3:38		Essam Mostafa turnover (lost ball) (Marcellus Brigham Jr. steals)
3:38		Marcellus Brigham Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Jestin Porter steals)
3:38		Jestin Porter misses two point jump shot
3:38		Essam Mostafa offensive rebound
3:38	+2	Essam Mostafa makes two point layup	60-70
3:38		Iaroslav Niagu shooting foul (Essam Mostafa draws the foul)
3:38		TV timeout
3:38	+1	Essam Mostafa makes regular free throw 1 of 1	60-71
3:24		Justin Bufford shooting foul (Marcellus Brigham Jr. draws the foul)
3:24		Marcellus Brigham Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2
3:24		Marcellus Brigham Jr. misses regular free throw 2 of 2
3:24		Jlynn Counter defensive rebound
3:20		Marcellus Brigham Jr. personal foul (Jlynn Counter draws the foul)
3:20	+1	Jlynn Counter makes regular free throw 1 of 2	60-72
3:20	+1	Jlynn Counter makes regular free throw 2 of 2	60-73
3:04		Jaron Pierre Jr. misses three point jump shot
3:02		Marcellus Brigham Jr. offensive rebound
2:58	+2	Marcellus Brigham Jr. makes two point jump shot	62-73
2:58		Gamecocks 30 second timeout
2:32		Jlynn Counter misses two point jump shot
2:30		Michael Houge defensive rebound
2:19		Michael Houge misses two point jump shot
2:17		Essam Mostafa defensive rebound
1:47		Jestin Porter misses two point jump shot
1:45		Torey Alston offensive rebound
1:33	+2	Torey Alston makes two point layup	62-75
1:24		Jaron Pierre Jr. misses two point layup
1:22		Torey Alston defensive rebound
1:12	+2	Torey Alston makes two point layup (Jlynn Counter assists)	62-77
0:55		Jaron Pierre Jr. misses three point jump shot
0:53		Jaron Pierre Jr. offensive rebound
0:45		Marcellus Brigham Jr. misses two point jump shot
0:43		Jestin Porter defensive rebound
0:32	+2	Jestin Porter makes two point layup	62-79
0:14		Jlynn Counter shooting foul (Jaron Pierre Jr. draws the foul)
0:14	+1	Jaron Pierre Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2	63-79
0:14	+1	Jaron Pierre Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2	64-79
0:05		Marcellus Brigham Jr. personal foul (Jestin Porter draws the foul)
0:05	+1	Jestin Porter makes regular free throw 1 of 2	64-80
0:05	+1	Jestin Porter makes regular free throw 2 of 2	64-81
0:01		Jaron Pierre Jr. misses three point jump shot
0:00		Essam Mostafa defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

Essam Mostafa defensive rebound