The Library Media — Sports · Sports Desk
Barnett’s Career-High 32 Powers Middle Tennessee Past Southeast Missouri, 88-75
By Piper Rampage
Photo: Air21 Express / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Quintero Barnett scored a career-high 32 points as Middle Tennessee defeated Southeast Missouri 88-75 at Murphy Center. The Blue Raiders improved to 3-1, while the Redhawks fell to 2-2 after being unable to overcome Middle Tennessee’s first-half advantage.
Barnett shot 10-of-13 from the field and 8-of-10 from three-point range, adding six rebounds and two assists. His eight three-pointers were the second-most in a single game in Middle Tennessee program history and helped produce the most points by an MTSU player in nearly two seasons.
Jahvin Carter added 22 points, four rebounds and seven assists, scoring 17 of his points in the second half. Barnett and Carter combined for 54 points. Fontaine Williams Jr. led Southeast Missouri with 20 points.
Middle Tennessee never trailed and took a 50-32 lead into halftime. The Blue Raiders led by as many as 22 points before the break, reaching 50-28, as Barnett’s perimeter shooting helped create separation.
Southeast Missouri responded with a 9-0 run in the second half, cutting the score to 56-45 with 13:40 remaining. The Redhawks continued to compete, but did not get the deficit below double figures after that point.
Middle Tennessee finished with 88 points, shooting 52.9% from the field and making 14 three-pointers. The team shot 63.6% from three-point range, marking the first time it had exceeded 60% from beyond the arc since Feb. 13, 2013, against Florida Atlantic.
The Blue Raiders held a 42-18 advantage in points from three-point range, with Barnett’s eight makes accounting for much of the difference. His performance, paired with Carter’s 22 points, gave Middle Tennessee two major scoring contributions.
The matchup was the first meeting between the schools in 27 years. Middle Tennessee’s 88-75 victory extended its record to 3-1, while Southeast Missouri left Murfreesboro at 2-2.
Piper Rampage
Men’s College Basketball, The Library Media
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