MT Athletic Communications
Posted: Thursday, January 7, 2010 10:19 pm

Senior Montarrio Haddock led the Blue Raiders with 24 points after going 7 for 12 from the field and made all nine of his free throws on Thursday night. (Bradley Lambert)

Jonesboro, Ark.– The Blue Raiders tied the game with 5.3 seconds to play after a three-pointer by senior Montarrio Haddock but Arkansas State drove the floor and hit a jumper with 0.7 seconds to give the Red Wolves a 69-67 win on Thursday night.

Middle Tennessee (7-8, 2-1) committed 26 fouls in the game as ASU (8-7, 3-1) capitalized on its free throw opportunities making 27 of 36. ASU’s only field goal after the three minute mark was the game winning shot as its only points were six free throws during that span.

“The only stat that matters is that at the free throw line they go 27 of 36 and we were 17 of 20. They out attempted us by 16 free throws and that was the game,” head coach Kermit Davis said.

Haddock led the team with 24 points after going 7 for 12 from the field and made all nine of his free throws. Junior Rod Emanuel added assistance to the Blue Raider offense scoring 20 points while senior Desmond Yates was the only other player in double figures with 10.

Middle Tennessee shot 41.8 percent as a team while the Red Wolves shot 46.3. The Blue Raiders performed well at the line making 17 of 20 for 85 percent on the night while ASU shot 75 percent from the charity stripe.

The Blue Raiders had three more rebounds than ASU with 33. Sixteen of Middle Tennessee’s rebounds were on the offensive side of the ball as it scored 18 on second chances.

The two teams traded points to begin the second half but Haddock scored five straight, which included three free throws to give Middle Tennessee a five point lead, 52-47, with nine minutes remaining.

With the score tied at 54, Yates hit two free throws to put the Blue Raiders up by two with 6:06 to play. The two teams continued to trade points with ASU taking a three point lead with three minutes remaining in the game, 61-58. Middle Tennessee pulled within one, 65-64, after two free throws by Haddock with 24 seconds to play.

The two teams battled to begin the game and at the first media timeout the score was tied 7-7. Middle Tennessee trailed 17-11 with 12:11 left on the clock after a jumper by ASU’s Thomas capped an 8-0 run.

Middle Tennessee closed the gap to one, 22-21 after three straight points by Emanuel. A jumper by Emanuel tied the score at 22 as the two schools continued to battle. ASU took a two point lead into the half after free throws by Thomas, 33-31.

Emanuel scored all but four of Middle Tennessee’s last 13 points to end the half. Emanuel led the team with 14 points at the half while Haddock added eight.

Middle Tennessee travels to Little Rock, Ark., on Friday to prepare for its game with Arkansas-Little Rock on Saturday, Jan. 9. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. with Chip Walters calling the play-by-play on the Blue Raider Network.