MONDAY morning in the NCAAM basketball world saw the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders claim a seven-point win over the UAB Blazers in a Division I clash at Bartow Arena.

It was a rematch of a cracking contest between the two schools, and the hype was evident given the last clash between these programs was a one-point overtime thriller.

The Blue Raiders got off to a hot start, gaining ascendancy in the first half, courtesy of some hot shooting from behind the arc in the opening minutes of the clash. Middle Tennessee held a 10-point lead at the main change, and although the Blazers won the second half and got within three points in the final minute of the match, the Blue Raiders held on for another thrilling win.

With that in mind, Rookie Me Central will be casting an eye over how the key players performed in the match, as some of the NCAAM’s best and brightest display their craft on a nightly basis.

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (76) def. UAB Blazers (69)

Blue Raiders

#44 – Essam Mostafa

The physical forward worked his way into the game nicely, delivering some big defensive plays in the first half before chiming in with some timely buckets after the main change. He spent most of the first half doing the dirty work in the low block, putting physical pressure on opposition players and setting solid screens to help get his teammates open. On the eve of halftime, he recorded back to back blocks to thwart an opposition attack, before heading down the other end to finish at the basket.

He was more aggressive after half time, recording the first basket of the second half with a driving lay-up. He threatened to take over the match with his work on the offensive glass, but unfortunately missed a few close chances at the cup. Down the stretch, he recorded arguably the most important basket of the match, knocking down a jumpshot off a Watson assist, stretching his team’s lead out to five and sealing the win. Mostafa was certainly one of the best with 12 points (6/10 FG) and nine rebounds (three offensive).

#22 Kamari Lands

It was a tough shooting night from Lands, who struggled to get his shot going in the win. From the field, the Junior guard made just one of his nine attempts, which was a lay-up halfway through the second half, timing his cut to the hoop perfectly and getting on the end of a nice pass. Apart from that, Lands’ shot was simply not falling, but he continued to get to the right spot, and should get back to his double-digit scoring average in the coming weeks.

#3 Jestin Porter

Middle Tennessee’s go-to scorer was back at it again in the win over the Blazers, leading all Blue Raiders players on the scoring front and making some huge plays in the context of the match. He knocked down the first shot of the match with a catch and fire triple to open scoring for the game, and built a solid first half from there. Porter’s balance of inside and outside scoring attempts was excellent, and he had 10 points at the main break.

Porter continued to threaten with his three-level scoring in the second half, knocking down a pair of triples early after half time as the Blue Raiders looked to slam the door shut. He quietened off for stages of the second half, and a pair of turnovers in the dying stages of the match threatened to undo a solid performance, but Middle Tennessee steadied late and held on for a win. In the end, Porter finished with a team-high 18 points to go with three assists and two steals in another damaging display from the Senior.

#24 Camryn Weston

Weston was a solid contributor for the winning side, making the most of his 26 minutes to come up with some big plays for Middle Tennessee. He was involved early in the piece, knocking down a three-pointer off a catch and shoot, driving to the basket for a finish at the cup and finding a teammate on the perimeter to set up another triple, all in the opening minutes of the clash.

Although he was never going to be able to keep up that level of production for the whole match, Weston had some important plays. He maintained an aggressive mindset with ball in hand, and although he was less accurate than he would have liked, his work on the glass was vital in helping Middle Tennessee maintain momentum in the match. The guard finished with 12 points (5/5 FT), eight rebounds and three assists in a balanced showing.

#4 Justin Bufford

Bufford rounded out the starting lineup well, contributing while not demanding the ball too much and recorded his third game in a row with double-digits in the scoring column having built into some ripping form. It was a slow start to the match from the guard, who did not record a field goal in the first half, but had worked hard to create space and shown a strong ability to draw contact, which resulted in trips to the free throw line.

The second half saw Bufford look to get more involved on the offensive end, and he knocked down a triple on the back of some hard running off the ball and a quick shooting motion. It was an important make not only for the Blue Raiders, but also Bufford’s confidence and he began to get more involved on the scoring side of things. His presence inside remained steadfast from the first half, but it was intent that was the noticeable change, resulting in a put-back lay-up and another made triple late in the game. He finished the contest with 15 points (3/5 FG, 7/8 FT), five rebounds and three assists.

#13 Chris Loofe

The Sophomore forward came off the bench to play some considerable minutes and was a key cog in the machine that recorded a win over UAB. He checked in early in the first half and looked to make his mark with a physical presence in the paint. Loofe’s rebounding and inside scoring gave the Blue Raiders a big boost, and he finished the match perfect from the field with all three of his attempts finding the bottom of the net for seven points.

#10 Torey Alston

Alston was a tremendous contributor off the bench for Middle Tennessee, stuffing the stat sheet to make the most of his 20 minutes of action. The Freshman provided plenty of energy off the bench and ended up being one of the most impactful players in the match. Whether it was putting pressure on the rim and producing athletic tip-ins or finding teammates with excellent vision, the forward popped up to do a bit of everything. Alston finished the match with 10 points, seven rebounds and two assists on 3/5 shooting from the field.

Blazers

#3 – Yaxel Lendeborg

One of UAB’s best NBA Draft prospects for 2025 and one of the most productive players in the nation, Lendeborg again produced a standout display in the tough loss to the Blue Raiders. The Blazers gun has started the season in red-hot form as he looks to make a case for himself in next year’s draft, and it was evident that UAB’s offence looked best when the ball went through his hands. An excellent inside scorer, Lendeborg created plenty of scoring opportunities by pulling down five offensive rebounds. He timed his jumps well and used his impressive wingspan to get first hands on the ball.

That wingspan has also helped him become a renowned shot blocker, and he swatted another attempt against Middle Tennessee. He shot 60 per cent from the field and recorded a double-double of 16 points, 10 rebounds, one steal and one block. One issue that did arise was some foul trouble, which certainly limited the damage he could do defensively, so there is still another step for the youngster to take. Regardless, there was plenty to like about Lendeborg’s performance.

#2 Ja’Borri McGhee

It was a promising performance from the Junior guard, who continued his solid campaign with another eye-catching scoring showing. Having emerged as a consistent double-digit scorer for the Blazers, McGhee again proved a reliable avenue to scoring and was one of the team’s best. It was a worrying start for the guard, who did knock down an early jumper but also turned the ball over twice. Most of his first half scoring came at the basket, as he drove inside and challenged Middle Tennessee’s big men to help keep UAB within striking distance.

He got off to a flying start in the second half, throwing down a dunk that brought energy and belief to the Blazers. He kept getting involved on the offensive end with some crucial makes, including a three-pointer to draw his team within six points late in the second half, and he had the chance to reduce the margin further but his triple was wayward. In the end, McGhee finished the contest with 16 points, three rebounds and one assist on 6/11 shooting from the field.