Lamar Drops First Game of the Season, 74-68, At Middle Tennessee

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Anthony Miles scored a game-high 19 while Charlie Harper posted his second career double-double but it wasn't quite enough as Lamar fell to Middle Tennessee, 74-68 at the Murphy Center Thursday night.
 
Lamar (2-1) lost its first game of the season as it opened a four-game road trip.
 
Harper had 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting and 15 rebounds, while Kendrick Harris added 14 points for the Cards, who shot 47.3 percent in the game with five 3-pointers, but struggled from the free throw line to the tune of 9-of-19.
 
Middle Tennessee (2-2) shot 47.2 percent from the field and 69 percent from the free throw line, converting 20-of-29 attempts.
 
The Blue Raiders used a 23-6 run midway through the first half to take a 29-20 lead over the Cardinals. Lamar had used their height advantage and two trey from Miles to take a 14-6 lead, before a 12-0 run gave the Blue Raiders an 18-14 advantage. Montarrio Haddock had the last seven points in the run, and 17 in the game.
 
MTSU led 37-31 at the half, and maintained a lead of four to eight points throughout the second half. After Lamar cut the deficit to five at 52-47, the Blue Raiders went on a 14-5 run, culminated by a long three-pointer by James Washington and a tip-in by Theryn Hudson to take a 66-52 lead, their largest of the game.
 
Lamar would cut the lead to 68-63 with 16 seconds left, but Washington and Rod Emanual hit six consecutive free throws down the stretch secure the win for Middle Tennessee.
 
The Blue Raiders out-rebounded the Cardinals, 36-33, while both teams had 15 turnovers as the fast pace of the game took its toll.
 
Lamar will continue its road trip at Texas Tech on Saturday. Tip-off at the United Spirit Arena is set for 7 p.m.