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Kermit Davis breaks all-time coaching wins record as Middle Tennessee State University downs Florida International

Clarksville Sports Network

Murfreesboro, TN – Despite evidence to the contrary, Middle Tennessee men’s basketball coach Kermit Davis suggested Thursday night’s Sun Belt Conference opener against Florida International was just like any other game.

After the Blue Raiders’ 71-66 victory over the Panthers in the Murphy Center, Davis tried his best to maintain his position, despite surpassing Jimmy Earle as the school’s all-time winningest coach in the process.

“It feels good to be 1-0 in the Sun Belt,” Davis said while flashing a smile. “And that’s the most important thing – to be 1-0 in your league.”

Middle Tennessee State coach Kermit Davis became the program's all-time winningest coach with the Blue Raiders' 71-66 win over Florida International on December 29th, 2011 in Murfreesboro, TN.
Middle Tennessee State coach Kermit Davis became the program's all-time winningest coach with the Blue Raiders' 71-66 win over Florida International on December 29th, 2011 in Murfreesboro, TN.

But the win had to mean something, didn’t it?.

“It is quite an honor to be the winningest coach and to be in the same breath as a lot of really, really good coaches at this school,” Davis said. “Coach Earle is one of my very best friends and it’s a honor to be mentioned in the same breath with Coach.”

Much like his team’s unaesthetic victory Thursday night, Davis said grit and determination played a large role in his road to Win No. 165.

“A lot of it is staying power,” Davis said. “Sometimes you do your best job with injuries and try and win 17 games. We’ve had a fun ten years – this was the most fun I’ve had in coaching – and I hope there are many more out there.”

Davis, who came to Murfreesboro in 2002, passed the Blue Raiders Hall of Famer in his 293rd game on the sideline but had to wait until the closing moments to soak in his historic victory.

After a late Panthers’ rally, the Blue Raiders relied on timely defense and sharp free-throw shooting to preserve their lead and give Davis his legendary win.

“I just knew it was going to be that way – I really did,” Davis said. “We weren’t at our complete best and league openers are some of the toughest games in all of college basketball.”

Middle Tennessee coach Kermit Davis
Middle Tennessee coach Kermit Davis

Fellow forward Shawn Jones added 15 points while LaRon Dendy recorded his third double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Junior guard Marcos Knight said the fiery demeanor of his record-breaking coach played a factor in the team’s win against the scrappy Panthers.

“Coach Davis is a great coach but he’s also a tough coach,” Knight said. “He’s always on you and he won’t let you slide. He will coach you as hard as he can because he wants you to be the best you can be.”

With the win, the Blue Raiders continued their hottest start in over 30 years and will host South Alabama in their 2011 finale on December 31st at the Murphy Center.

“There are no nights off or easy games in this league,” Davis said. “Teams rise to the top in the non-conference portion of the season, but things always have a way of sorting themselves out once we get into the conference schedule.”

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlN5mmGw7q4[/youtube]

Wade Neely
Wade Neelyhttp://www.twitter.com/WadeNeely
Wade Neely comes to Clarksville after beginning his sports media career in March 2010 as the Sports Director at WKSR AM-FM in Pulaski, Tenn. During his time at WKSR, Neely created, produced and hosted "The Wade Neely Morning Show", Pulaski's only live and local wakeup program on WKSR-AM. Neely also served as the "Voice of the Bobcats", providing play-by-play for all Giles County football, basketball and select baseball contests. Neely also served as Director of Broadcasting at Martin Methodist College beginning in January 2011, providing play-by-play for all RedHawks home contests as well as the team's trip to the NAIA National Tournament in Kansas City. Originally from Pulaski, Neely earned his B.S. in Electronic Media Communication from Middle Tennessee State University's famed College of Mass Communications. Neely also minored in Economics during undergraduate career.
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