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National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Middle Tennessee St. 71, Tennessee 64
When: 7:00 PM ET, Monday, March 19, 2012
Where: Thompson-Boling Arena, Knoxville, Tennessee
Officials: # Chris Beaver, # John Heatly, # Bryan Kersey
Attendance: 12038

Middle Tennessee State 71, Tennessee 64: Bruce Massey scored a career-high 20 points, including back-to-back buckets in the final 1:34 to help the Blue Raiders snap a nine-game losing streak against their in-state rivals with a win in the second round of the NIT.

Middle Tennessee advances to face the Miami-Minnesota winner in Wednesday's third round.

Tennessee did not score in the final 7:12. The Blue Raiders outscored the Vols 15-0 during that stretch.

The Blue Raiders (27-6) cooled off after a hot start led them to a 23-11 lead, and they struggled to keep up with the Vols with star LaRon Denby saddled with foul trouble.

But Massey picked up the scoring load, going 6 of 10 from the field and 8 of 9 from the foul line. He also grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds for his first double-double.

Forward Jeronne Maymon returned from a right knee injury for Tennessee to score 17 points and grab seven rebounds off the bench, but the Vols could not find their offensive rhythm down the stretch.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Middle Tennessee also beat Tennessee in the first round of the NIT in 1988 in Murfreesboro, Tenn. … The Vols dropped to 34-11 against in-state NCAA Division I opponents since the 2005-06 season. … Tennessee had won 13 of its previous 14 games at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Top Game Performances
 
Middle Tennessee St.   Tennessee
Bruce Massey 20 Scoring Jeronne Maymon 17
Bruce Massey 4 Assists Trae Golden 8
Bruce Massey 10 Rebounds Jeronne Maymon 7
Bruce Massey 8 Free Throws Made Trae Golden 6
Bruce Massey 3 Steals Skylar McBee 3
Bruce Massey 1 Blocks Jordan McRae 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Middle Tennessee St. 71 46.2 3-11 20-28 12 45 1 5 17
Tennessee 64 37.9 1-13 19-30 12 29 4 8 10