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Counter's 17 help Middle Tennessee down Florida International 73-69 in C-USA opener

AP
Jan 02, 2025

MIAMI (AP) Jlynn Counter's 17 points helped Middle Tennessee defeat Florida International 73-69 to open Conference USA play on Thursday night.

Counter also contributed five rebounds for the Blue Raiders (10-4, 1-0). Camryn Weston scored 15 points while shooting 5 for 14 (2 for 6 from 3-point range) and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line and added five rebounds. Essam Mostafa and Jestin Porter both scored 11 points.

The Panthers (6-8, 0-1) were led in scoring by Vianney Salatchoum, who finished with 21 points. Asim Jones added 15 points, five assists, two steals and two blocks for Florida International. Dashon Gittens finished with 10 points and two steals.

Counter scored eight points in the first half and Middle Tennessee went into halftime trailing 35-32. Middle Tennessee pulled off the victory after a 13-2 second-half run erased a seven-point deficit and gave them the lead at 71-67 with 14 seconds remaining in the half. Mostafa scored nine second-half points.

NEXT UP

Both teams next play Saturday. Middle Tennessee visits Liberty and Florida International plays Western Kentucky at home.

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

1st Half
MTSU
Blue Raiders
32
FIU
Panthers
35

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Essam Mostafa vs. Vianney Salatchoum (Panthers gains possession)
19:41	+2	Vianney Salatchoum makes two point jump shot (Jonathan Aybar assists)	0-2
19:11		Justin Bufford turnover (bad pass) (Jonathan Aybar steals)
18:55		Vianney Salatchoum offensive foul
18:55		Vianney Salatchoum turnover (offensive foul)
18:36		Torey Alston turnover (bad pass)
18:18	+2	Vianney Salatchoum makes two point layup (Jonathan Aybar assists)	0-4
17:55		Vianney Salatchoum shooting foul (Jlynn Counter draws the foul)
17:55	+1	Jlynn Counter makes regular free throw 1 of 2	1-4
17:55	+1	Jlynn Counter makes regular free throw 2 of 2	2-4
17:32		Jonathan Aybar offensive foul
17:32		Jonathan Aybar turnover (offensive foul)
17:21		Jestin Porter turnover (bad pass) (Asim Jones steals)
17:18		Jestin Porter personal foul (Dashon Gittens draws the foul)
17:18	+2	Dante Wilcox makes two point layup (Jonathan Aybar assists)	2-6
16:53		Ashton Williamson shooting foul (Essam Mostafa draws the foul)
16:53		Essam Mostafa misses regular free throw 1 of 2
16:53		Essam Mostafa misses regular free throw 2 of 2
16:53		Jonathan Aybar defensive rebound
16:40		Essam Mostafa shooting foul (Jonathan Aybar draws the foul)
16:40	+1	Jonathan Aybar makes regular free throw 1 of 2	2-7
16:40		Jonathan Aybar misses regular free throw 2 of 2
16:40		Justin Bufford defensive rebound
16:22	+2	Justin Bufford makes two point jump shot	4-7
15:57		Dashon Gittens misses two point layup
15:55		Dashon Gittens offensive rebound
15:52		Dashon Gittens misses two point layup
15:50		Dashon Gittens offensive rebound
15:49	+2	Dashon Gittens makes two point layup	4-9
15:43		Chris Loofe offensive foul
15:43		Chris Loofe turnover (offensive foul)
15:43		TV timeout
15:30		Kole Williams misses two point layup
15:28		Chris Loofe defensive rebound
15:24		Dante Wilcox blocks Justin Bufford's two point layup
15:22		Blue Raiders offensive rebound
15:18		Camryn Weston turnover (traveling)
15:06		Kole Williams turnover (lost ball)
14:56	+2	Tre Green makes two point layup (Camryn Weston assists)	6-9
14:44		Travis Gray misses two point layup
14:42		Dante Wilcox offensive rebound
14:37		Dante Wilcox misses two point layup
14:35		Tre Green defensive rebound
14:31		Travis Gray blocks Jestin Porter's two point layup
14:29		Travis Gray defensive rebound
14:17		Asim Jones misses two point layup
14:15		Dashon Gittens offensive rebound
14:10	+2	Asim Jones makes two point layup (Dashon Gittens assists)	6-11
13:52		Camryn Weston misses two point jump shot
13:50		Travis Gray defensive rebound
13:42		Travis Gray misses two point jump shot
13:40		Justin Bufford defensive rebound
13:33		Tre Green misses three point jump shot
13:31		Travis Gray defensive rebound
13:03	+3	Asim Jones makes three point jump shot	6-14
12:48		Travis Gray shooting foul (Justin Bufford draws the foul)
12:48	+1	Justin Bufford makes regular free throw 1 of 2	7-14
12:48		Justin Bufford misses regular free throw 2 of 2
12:48		Travis Gray defensive rebound
12:30		Jonathan Aybar misses two point layup
12:28		Justin Bufford defensive rebound
12:22	+2	Camryn Weston makes two point layup	9-14
12:04	+2	Jaden Grant makes two point jump shot (Ashton Williamson assists)	9-16
11:51		TV timeout
11:46		Travis Gray blocks Camryn Weston's two point jump shot
11:44		Jonathan Aybar defensive rebound
11:36		Torey Alston personal foul (Ashton Williamson draws the foul)
11:32		Torey Alston blocks Travis Gray's two point layup
11:30		Camryn Weston defensive rebound
11:11		Jlynn Counter misses three point jump shot
11:09		Jonathan Aybar defensive rebound
10:57	+2	Jonathan Aybar makes two point layup (Ashton Williamson assists)	9-18
10:31		Jlynn Counter misses three point jump shot
10:29		Torey Alston offensive rebound
10:24		Torey Alston turnover (carrying) (Jaden Grant steals)
10:19		Dashon Gittens turnover (lost ball) (Jlynn Counter steals)
10:13	+2	Tre Green makes two point layup (Jlynn Counter assists)	11-18
9:56		Ashton Williamson misses two point jump shot
9:54		Jlynn Counter defensive rebound
9:48	+2	Jlynn Counter makes two point layup	13-18
9:35		Jonathan Aybar misses three point jump shot
9:33		Torey Alston defensive rebound
9:22	+2	Camryn Weston makes two point jump shot	15-18
9:08		Ashton Williamson turnover (bad pass) (Jlynn Counter steals)
9:01		Tre Green misses three point jump shot
8:59		Ashton Williamson defensive rebound
8:53		Ashton Williamson offensive foul
8:53		Ashton Williamson turnover (offensive foul)
8:43		Jestin Porter misses two point jump shot
8:41		Vianney Salatchoum defensive rebound
8:25	+3	Dashon Gittens makes three point jump shot (Asim Jones assists)	15-21
7:55	+3	Jestin Porter makes three point jump shot (Chris Loofe assists)	18-21
7:38		Jaden Grant turnover (bad pass) (Camryn Weston steals)
7:32	+2	Camryn Weston makes two point layup	20-21
7:20		Asim Jones turnover (bad pass) (Camryn Weston steals)
7:11		Jlynn Counter turnover (bad pass)
7:11		TV timeout
6:56	+2	Vianney Salatchoum makes two point jump shot	20-23
6:43		Camryn Weston misses two point layup
6:41		Panthers defensive rebound
6:30		Dashon Gittens misses three point jump shot
6:28		Camryn Weston defensive rebound
6:18		Justin Bufford misses two point jump shot
6:16		Jaden Grant defensive rebound
5:53		Vianney Salatchoum misses two point jump shot
5:51		Camryn Weston defensive rebound
5:43	+2	Jacob Johnson makes two point layup (Justin Bufford assists)	22-23
5:18	+2	Vianney Salatchoum makes two point jump shot	22-25
5:05		Jestin Porter misses three point jump shot
5:03		Vianney Salatchoum defensive rebound
4:34	+2	Asim Jones makes two point layup	22-27
4:23	+3	Chris Loofe makes three point jump shot (Justin Bufford assists)	25-27
3:56	+2	Vianney Salatchoum makes two point jump shot (Dante Wilcox assists)	25-29
3:37		Chris Loofe turnover (bad pass) (Asim Jones steals)
3:23		TV timeout
3:07		Camryn Weston shooting foul (Asim Jones draws the foul)
3:07	+1	Asim Jones makes regular free throw 1 of 2	25-30
3:07	+1	Asim Jones makes regular free throw 2 of 2	25-31
2:48		Jestin Porter misses two point jump shot
2:46		Jonathan Aybar defensive rebound
2:37		Jonathan Aybar misses two point layup
2:35		Jlynn Counter defensive rebound
2:31	+2	Jlynn Counter makes two point layup	27-31
2:31		Travis Gray shooting foul (Jestin Porter draws the foul)
2:31	+1	Jestin Porter makes regular free throw 1 of 1	28-31
2:11		Jonathan Aybar misses three point jump shot
2:09		Blue Raiders defensive rebound
1:51		Camryn Weston turnover (lost ball) (Dante Wilcox steals)
1:25		Dashon Gittens misses two point jump shot
1:23		Torey Alston defensive rebound
1:18		Camryn Weston misses three point jump shot
1:16		Blue Raiders offensive rebound
1:15		George Pridgett Jr. personal foul (Essam Mostafa draws the foul)
1:15	+1	Essam Mostafa makes regular free throw 1 of 2	29-31
1:15	+1	Essam Mostafa makes regular free throw 2 of 2	30-31
0:59		Camryn Weston personal foul (Asim Jones draws the foul)
0:55	+2	Asim Jones makes two point layup (Dante Wilcox assists)	30-33
0:44	+2	Jlynn Counter makes two point layup	32-33
0:32	+2	Travis Gray makes two point layup	32-35
0:02		Essam Mostafa misses two point layup
0:01		Blue Raiders offensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
MTSU
Blue Raiders
41
FIU
Panthers
34

Time		Play	Score
19:48		Vianney Salatchoum shooting foul (Torey Alston draws the foul)
19:48		Torey Alston misses regular free throw 1 of 2
19:48		Torey Alston misses regular free throw 2 of 2
19:48		Jonathan Aybar defensive rebound
19:30		Dashon Gittens turnover (bad pass)
19:20	+3	Jestin Porter makes three point jump shot (Justin Bufford assists)	35-35
19:05	+2	Vianney Salatchoum makes two point layup (Asim Jones assists)	35-37
18:55		Jlynn Counter turnover (bad pass) (Dashon Gittens steals)
18:52		Dashon Gittens turnover (lost ball)
18:46	+2	Jlynn Counter makes two point layup	37-37
18:33		Ashton Williamson turnover (bad pass) (Jestin Porter steals)
18:28	+2	Torey Alston makes two point alley-oop dunk (Jestin Porter assists)	39-37
18:13		Vianney Salatchoum misses two point hook shot
18:11		Panthers offensive rebound
17:55		Panthers turnover (shot clock violation)
17:38		Essam Mostafa misses two point layup
17:36		Jonathan Aybar defensive rebound
17:17	+2	Asim Jones makes two point jump shot	39-39
17:08	+2	Torey Alston makes two point layup (Essam Mostafa assists)	41-39
16:55		Dante Wilcox misses three point jump shot
16:53		Asim Jones offensive rebound
16:49		Asim Jones turnover (lost ball) (Torey Alston steals)
16:45	+2	Jestin Porter makes two point layup	43-39
16:29		Ashton Williamson turnover (bad pass) (Jestin Porter steals)
16:23		Camryn Weston misses two point layup
16:21		Dante Wilcox defensive rebound
16:16	+3	Dashon Gittens makes three point jump shot (Asim Jones assists)	43-42
15:57		Asim Jones personal foul (Jlynn Counter draws the foul)
15:57		TV timeout
15:48		Dashon Gittens blocks Jestin Porter's three point jump shot
15:46		Blue Raiders offensive rebound
15:39		Dante Wilcox blocks Camryn Weston's two point layup
15:37		Essam Mostafa offensive rebound
15:29	+2	Essam Mostafa makes two point layup	45-42
15:26		Jonathan Aybar turnover (bad pass) (Essam Mostafa steals)
15:21		Travis Gray shooting foul (Jestin Porter draws the foul)
15:21	+1	Jestin Porter makes regular free throw 1 of 2	46-42
15:21	+1	Jestin Porter makes regular free throw 2 of 2	47-42
15:11		Essam Mostafa shooting foul (Dashon Gittens draws the foul)
15:11	+1	Dashon Gittens makes regular free throw 1 of 2	47-43
15:11	+1	Dashon Gittens makes regular free throw 2 of 2	47-44
15:02		Jestin Porter misses two point layup
15:00		Jlynn Counter offensive rebound
14:55	+2	Torey Alston makes two point layup (Jlynn Counter assists)	49-44
14:29		Torey Alston blocks Travis Gray's two point layup
14:27		Torey Alston defensive rebound
14:22		Jestin Porter misses three point jump shot
14:20		Vianney Salatchoum defensive rebound
14:09		Travis Gray misses three point jump shot
14:07		Jlynn Counter defensive rebound
14:01	+2	Essam Mostafa makes two point layup (Jlynn Counter assists)	51-44
13:41		Travis Gray misses three point jump shot
13:39		Camryn Weston defensive rebound
13:24		Essam Mostafa misses two point layup
13:22		Asim Jones defensive rebound
13:03		Asim Jones misses three point jump shot
13:01		Dante Wilcox offensive rebound
12:59	+3	Travis Gray makes three point jump shot (Dante Wilcox assists)	51-47
12:57		Panthers 30 second timeout
12:57		TV timeout
12:48		Justin Bufford misses two point layup
12:46		Panthers defensive rebound
12:21	+2	Jaden Grant makes two point layup (George Pridgett Jr. assists)	51-49
12:04		Jlynn Counter turnover (bad pass) (Vianney Salatchoum steals)
11:51		Justin Bufford blocks Dashon Gittens's two point layup
11:51		Panthers offensive rebound
11:51		TV timeout
11:37	+2	Vianney Salatchoum makes two point jump shot (Travis Gray assists)	51-51
11:26		Jestin Porter misses three point jump shot
11:24		Vianney Salatchoum defensive rebound
11:07	+2	George Pridgett Jr. makes two point layup	51-53
10:55		Camryn Weston turnover (bad pass) (Travis Gray steals)
10:40	+2	Vianney Salatchoum makes two point jump shot (Travis Gray assists)	51-55
10:18	+3	Camryn Weston makes three point jump shot	54-55
10:17		Blue Raiders 30 second timeout
9:52	+2	Travis Gray makes two point jump shot	54-57
9:37		Asim Jones blocks Tre Green's three point jump shot
9:35		Asim Jones defensive rebound
9:32	+2	Asim Jones makes two point layup	54-59
9:03		Travis Gray shooting foul (Torey Alston draws the foul)
9:03		Torey Alston misses regular free throw 1 of 2
9:03	+1	Torey Alston makes regular free throw 2 of 2	55-59
8:35		Asim Jones misses two point jump shot
8:33		Jlynn Counter defensive rebound
8:28	+3	Camryn Weston makes three point jump shot (Torey Alston assists)	58-59
7:57		Vianney Salatchoum turnover (lost ball) (Essam Mostafa steals)
7:52		Asim Jones blocks Jestin Porter's two point layup
7:50		Asim Jones defensive rebound
7:22	+3	Vianney Salatchoum makes three point jump shot	58-62
6:58		Camryn Weston misses three point jump shot
6:56		Essam Mostafa offensive rebound
6:51		Torey Alston misses two point dunk
6:49		Vianney Salatchoum defensive rebound
6:27	+3	George Pridgett Jr. makes three point jump shot (Asim Jones assists)	58-65
6:17	+3	Jlynn Counter makes three point jump shot (Camryn Weston assists)	61-65
5:51		TV timeout
5:41		Panthers turnover (shot clock violation)
5:12		Camryn Weston misses three point jump shot
5:10		Dante Wilcox defensive rebound
4:54		Travis Gray misses three point jump shot
4:52		Camryn Weston defensive rebound
4:46		Justin Bufford misses two point layup
4:44		Jacob Johnson offensive rebound
4:35	+2	Essam Mostafa makes two point hook shot	63-65
4:35		Jonathan Aybar shooting foul (Essam Mostafa draws the foul)
4:35	+1	Essam Mostafa makes regular free throw 1 of 1	64-65
4:09	+2	Travis Gray makes two point jump shot	64-67
3:42		Camryn Weston misses three point jump shot
3:40		Essam Mostafa offensive rebound
3:36	+2	Essam Mostafa makes two point layup	66-67
3:08		Asim Jones turnover (out of bounds)
3:08		TV timeout
2:54	+2	Jlynn Counter makes two point layup (Essam Mostafa assists)	68-67
2:25		Essam Mostafa personal foul
2:15		Vianney Salatchoum misses two point layup
2:13		Essam Mostafa defensive rebound
1:55		Ashton Williamson shooting foul (Camryn Weston draws the foul)
1:55		Camryn Weston misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:55	+1	Camryn Weston makes regular free throw 2 of 2	69-67
1:38		Vianney Salatchoum turnover (lost ball) (Essam Mostafa steals)
1:36		Jlynn Counter turnover (traveling)
1:23		Justin Bufford blocks Vianney Salatchoum's two point layup
1:21		Essam Mostafa defensive rebound
1:10		Blue Raiders 30 second timeout
0:53		Justin Bufford turnover (bad pass) (Dashon Gittens steals)
0:45		Travis Gray misses three point jump shot
0:43		Justin Bufford defensive rebound
0:14		Dashon Gittens shooting foul (Jlynn Counter draws the foul)
0:14	+1	Jlynn Counter makes regular free throw 1 of 3	70-67
0:14	+1	Jlynn Counter makes regular free throw 2 of 3	71-67
0:14		Jlynn Counter misses regular free throw 3 of 3
0:14		Travis Gray defensive rebound
0:11		Camryn Weston personal foul
0:08		Justin Bufford personal foul
0:06		Jlynn Counter personal foul
0:06		Panthers 30 second timeout
0:05	+2	Vianney Salatchoum makes two point jump shot (Asim Jones assists)	71-69
0:03		Ashton Williamson personal foul (Camryn Weston draws the foul)
0:03		Panthers 60 second timeout
0:03	+1	Camryn Weston makes regular free throw 1 of 2	72-69
0:03	+1	Camryn Weston makes regular free throw 2 of 2	73-69
0:03		Asim Jones turnover (bad pass) (Torey Alston steals)
0:00		End of period

Asim Jones turnover (bad pass) (Torey Alston steals)