HUNTSVILLE, Texas — In a thrilling matchup on Thursday night, Jestin Porter led the Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee to a narrow victory over Sam Houston, ending the game with 28 points and clinching a 77-75 win.

With just over two minutes left in the game, Camryn Weston converted two crucial free throws that extended Middle Tennessee’s lead to 77-70.

Porter had an impressive shooting performance, making 10 of his 16 attempts, which included a remarkable 8 out of 12 from three-point range, helping the Blue Raiders improve to 14-5 overall and 5-1 in Conference USA play. Essam Mostafa also contributed significantly to the team’s effort, scoring 16 points while shooting 6 of 11 from the field, and going 4 for 4 from the free-throw line. He also collected nine rebounds. Weston, adding to the score, had 11 points, though he struggled with his shooting, going 3 of 9 from the field, and he managed to sink 5 of 6 from the charity stripe.

On the other side, the Bearkats were led by Marcus Boykin, who recorded 22 points along with six rebounds and eight assists. Lamar Wilkerson added a solid 20 points, while Cameron Huefner contributed 14 points to the team’s total.

Mostafa started strong with 12 points in the first half, but Middle Tennessee found itself down at halftime, with a score of 38-36. In response, Porter came alive in the second half, scoring 16 points to turn the tide of the game.

Both teams are set to continue their seasons with games on Saturday. Middle Tennessee will travel to face Louisiana Tech, while Sam Houston will host Western Kentucky.