MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — In a decisive matchup on Saturday night, Jestin Porter delivered an impressive performance, scoring 29 points as Middle Tennessee conquered Jacksonville State with a final score of 81-64.

Porter’s efforts were complemented by four steals, contributing significantly to the Blue Raiders’ victory, bringing their record to 12-5 overall and 3-1 in Conference USA. Essam Mostafa also made a notable impact, scoring 22 points while shooting an efficient 10 for 12 from the floor and hitting 2 of 3 free throws, alongside grabbing nine rebounds. Torey Alston supported the team with 11 points, hitting 5 of 6 from the field although struggling slightly at the line with only 1 out of 5 attempts.

For the Gamecocks, Jaron Pierre Jr. stood out, leading the team with 22 points, along with nine rebounds and two blocks. Michael Houge contributed a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Marcellus Brigham Jr. added nine points and recorded three steals, as the team fell to a record of 9-7 and 1-2 in the conference.

Middle Tennessee established their dominance early on, seizing the lead just 12 seconds into the game and maintaining it throughout. At halftime, the Blue Raiders were ahead 37-27, with Porter already tallying 14 points. He continued to shine in the second half, contributing another 15 points and aiding Middle Tennessee in increasing their lead by outperforming Jacksonville State by seven points in the second half.

Next up, Middle Tennessee is set to clash with Western Kentucky at home this coming Saturday, while Jacksonville State will be looking to regroup and host Louisiana Tech on Thursday.