MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee men's basketball defense showed up in a big way in the first game of the season, holding Brescia to just 33.9 percent shooting from the floor in a 79-52 win at the Murphy Center.
The Blue Raiders, the first Division-I men's basketball team to record a win in the 2022-23 season, took advantage of their inside presence in comparison to the NAIA Bearcats (1-1 in non-exhibitions), grabbing 46 boards to Brescia's 27, including 19 offensive rebounds. MTSU's press was in mid-season form early, helping force Brescia into 17 turnovers, resulting in 25 points for the Blue Raiders.