Mid-Major Madness - Tracking Saturday: Upsets and Near Misses Edition"So what are they going to call it? NonPower5Madness.com?"https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50397/midmajor-fav.png2012-12-08T22:01:13-08:00http://www.midmajormadness.com/rss/stream/35087932012-12-08T22:01:13-08:002012-12-08T22:01:13-08:00Ed Townsel's Best 2 Minutes of His Career
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<p>Ed Townsel had an odd day for Arkansas State. Normally the junior is the focal point of the offense for the Red Wolves.</p>
<p>Saturday he was only the focus for the final two minutes, the most important ones for Arkansas State in a 73-70 win over St. Bonaventure.</p>
<p>We are talking about a kid that takes almost 30 percent of his team's shot when he is on the floor. Saturday he shot only eight times, six from behind the arc.</p>
<p>Three went in, two in the last two minutes, and it saved the Red Wolves from what could have been a debilitating defeat. They had a 17-point lead at one point. It was gone by the time that the second Townsel three went in with two minutes remaining. </p>
<p>That put the game even at 68. After St. Bonaventure went ahead again, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/176059/raeford-worsham">Raeford Worsham</a> stole the ball and tied the game again.</p>
<p>After a series of timeouts, and a missed 3-pointer by Chris Johnson, Townsel pulled down the ball. </p>
<p>Seven seconds later, the game was over on Townsel's third three of the game.</p>
<p>It wasn't the typical game for the junior, but it might have been more important than any of his best to this point.</p>
https://www.midmajormadness.com/2012/12/8/3745792/ed-townsel-arkansas-state-st-bonaventure-recapBenjamin Miraski2012-12-08T21:22:00-08:002012-12-08T21:22:00-08:00Texas Southern's Omar Not Strong Enough
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<p>Texas Southern's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/146222/omar-strong">Omar Strong</a> is becoming a little bit of a cult figure. He only shares a name with one of the best characters from the Wire, and his moniker is the kind of thing that you know Gus Johnson would love to call.</p>
<p>And according to our friends over at College Basketball Talk on NBC Sports, you have to say the whole thing. There is no just calling him "Strong".</p>
<p>Omar Strong had another amazing night for the Tigers. Omar Strong went 8-for-16 from 3-point range, and that still wasn't enough to get past Houston. But man it was close.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/176245/danuel-house">Danuel House</a> ruined what would have been another coming out party for Omar Strong. With nine-seconds remaining, House hit a 3-pointer that tied the game at 66 to force overtime.</p>
<p>Omar Strong hit two 3-pointers in the extra frame, but it was just enough to keep things close. The rest of the Tiger team couldn't stop a suddenly hot-shooting Houston squad, and the foul on every basket just made it worse.</p>
<p>It is almost unthinkable that a Mike Davis team would make mistakes like that on defense, but it is probably more that the Tigers' luck finally ran out. Omar Strong wasn't strong enough to overcome that. It won't be often that 29 points, especially in the manner he got them won't win it for Texas Southern.</p>
<p>Houston got 23 points from <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145454/tashawn-thomas">TaShawn Thomas</a>, who added nine rebounds and three blocks in the win. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123653/joseph-young">Joseph Young</a> added 21 and House had just nine, although the three biggest ones.</p>
<p>Dear SWAC, Omar coming, and it is going to be very interesting.</p>
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<th class="td-left"> <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/events/107087">Final - 12.8.2012 </a> </th> <th>1</th> <th>2</th> <th>Total</th>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="loss"> <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/texas-southern-tigers">Texas Southern Tigers</a> </span></td>
<td>35</td>
<td>31</td>
<td class="highlight">75</td>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="win"> <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/houston-cougars">Houston Cougars</a> </span></td>
<td>27</td>
<td>39</td>
<td class="highlight">78</td>
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<p class="foot clearfix"><span class="link-more"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/events/107087">Complete Coverage ></a></span></p>
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https://www.midmajormadness.com/2012/12/8/3745730/texas-southern-omar-strong-houston-recapBenjamin Miraski2012-12-08T17:04:54-08:002012-12-08T17:04:54-08:00Tweety Time: Knight Helps MTSU Knock Off Ole Miss
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<figcaption>J. Meric</figcaption>
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<p>Middle Tennessee provided a rude welcome for the Rebels as they allowed an SEC squad onto their home court and then used a team effort to send them home as losers.</p> <p>Middle Tennessee has really been using a team approach this season. Ten different players have logged at least 15 minutes per game over the season's first eight games, andthey all make a contribution somewhere.</p>
<p>One of those is juco transfer Tweety Knight (<strike>no relation to senior Marcos, as far a I can tell </strike>senior Marcos' little brother). Knight had been chipping in a respectable five points, five assists, two rebounds and two steals per game (roughly) despite only playing about 15 minutes per contest for the Raiders.</p>
<p>He was a difference maker for MTSU in their win over Louisiana-Lafayette when he didn't miss a shot en route to 10 points off the bench, and he made another major contribution tonight. <a href="#" class="sbn-auto-link">Jason Jones</a> got the start tonight but played only seven minutes, leading to significant bench minutes for <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/101271/jt-sulton" class="sbn-auto-link">JT Sulton</a> and Kerry Hammonds, as well as Knight.</p>
<p>But Knight put up the most impressive line: nine points, three rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks - an across-the-stat-sheet performace in only 16 minutes of game time. That helped the Raiders get to the moment you see below:</p>
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https://www.midmajormadness.com/2012/12/8/3745060/blue-raiders-take-down-ole-miss-65-62Nicolas A. Lewis2012-12-08T14:58:07-08:002012-12-08T14:58:07-08:00Boilers Meet Their Maker: EMU 47, Purdue 44
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Perhaps it's time to start seriously considering an EMU squad that is now 6-2 after sneaking by the Boilermakers up in Ypsilanti. Or perhaps not.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/eastern-michigan-eagles">Eastern Michigan Eagles</a> did not have a very good day. The team shot a meager 30.9% from the field (17-of-55), and succeeded in making only 8-of-19 free throw attempts (42%).</p>
<p>Not a single player that stepped on the court for them today scored in double digits, and the team as a whole scored only three points in the final 8:27 of play while missing all seven of their shots from the field in that time. And yet, there it is: EMU 47, Purdue 44.</p>
<p>Alright, perhaps this isn't earth-shattering news. Eastern Michigan is one of the best teams in the MAC, and Purdue is in a great conference, but is by far one of the worst teams the Big Ten has to offer. That said, the Eagles have to be gaining at least a little confidence from a game where nothing was going right (Purdue opened the game on an 11-2 run).</p>
<p>We will see how the Eagles progress, as they now hit the road to play a hot-starting UIC squad followed by another road matchup against a Michigan team that I hear is pretty decent.</p>
https://www.midmajormadness.com/2012/12/8/3744754/eastern-michigan-knocks-off-purdue-at-homeNicolas A. Lewis2012-12-08T12:45:44-08:002012-12-08T12:45:44-08:00Benimon Nearly Enough: G'Town 46, Towson 40
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>A low scoring contest saw Georgetown hold on late for a win against a Towson team that, quite honestly, they shouldn't be struggling against. What about the Tigers' future?</p> <p>In helping our SBN fellows over at Casual Hoya <a target="_blank" href="http://www.casualhoya.com/2012/12/6/3735336/sleeping-with-the-enemy-georgetown-hoyas-towson-tigers-game-preview">preview this game</a>, we talked about the potential for an emotional game for former Georgetown recruit <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100006/jerrelle-benimon" class="sbn-auto-link">Jerrelle Benimon</a>, and how he would want to prove himself against his ex-team. We also talked about how anything beyond that would be a struggle for Towson, a team who already had more wins through eight games than they did all last season.</p>
<p>Well, we got it half right. Benimon definitely showed up: he only attempted six shots all game, but still made his way to a double-double, thanks in large part to 16 rebounds - with six of those coming in the first half along with two blocks and a steal.</p>
<p>All that led to a first half where, after a layup with 44 seconds left, Georgetown only led for a total of 90 seconds out of the first 20 minutes. The second half was just as close, and Benimon's lone 3-point attempt (and make) cut the score to 42-40 Georgetown with 4:27 left to play.</p>
<p>That was as close as it got though, as the Tigers only managed three shots the rest of the way and missed them all. Granted, this close game was just as much about Georgetown's difficulties with playing down to their opponents and a messy offensive performance (30% FG, 2-for-16 3PT) that wasn't just great Towson defense.</p>
<p>I realize that Towson has come pretty far since last season (partly since there's nowhere to go but up when you win one game), but today showed their potential - Benimon is a serious threat (today makes 53 points and 42 rebounds in his last three games). If he can just get some consistent, efficient secondary scoring production - guards <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/175491/jerome-hairston" class="sbn-auto-link">Jerome Hairston</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100052/mike-burwell" class="sbn-auto-link">Mike Burwell</a> both average almost 10 ppg despite shooting less than 39 percent on field goals - they might be able to make some serious noise in what is an admittedly weak Colonial this season.</p>
https://www.midmajormadness.com/2012/12/8/3744344/hoyas-struggle-against-lowly-towsonNicolas A. Lewis