Williams, Potts help Middle Tennessee to 14th win in C-USA (Feb 18, 2017)

By AP
Published

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) JaCorey Williams scored 25 points and Giddy Potts 19 as Middle Tennessee weathered a late Marshall rally to hang on for a 97-86 win, its fourth in a row.

Williams made 9 of 17 shots and has scored 20 or more points in nine games this season. Potts made five 3-pointers, matching his season best from beyond the arc. Middle Tennessee (24-4, 14-1) shot 52 percent (34 of 65) and led for all but a minute en route to its school-record 14th win in Conference USA play.

The victory also gave Coach Kermit Davis his 300th win.

Led by 27 points from C.J.Burks, the Thundering Herd (15-12, 8-6) came thundering back from 24 points down in the final six minutes to come as close as nine with three seconds left. Ryan Taylor added 20 points and 13 rebounds, Jon Elmore 18 points and five assists.

Marshall lost a two-game win streak but remains among five teams clustered behind Middle Tennessee and Louisiana Tech. The top four teams receive a first-round bye.

Middle Tennessee's Reggie Upshaw, 12 points, and Marshall's Taylor are two of only three players in the country with 1,000 points, 50 rebounds, 200 assists, 100 blocks and 100 steals in their careers.