Sports

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (BEASLEY)  --  The Middle Tennessee Men's and Women's basketball programs have both been projected to win the Eastern Division by Sun Belt head coaches. Both squads will take the Murphy Center court Friday night to defend last year’s regular season championships.

Following last years monumental 27-win season, 10 of last year's top 12 scorers are returning to the men's team, including six experienced seniors.

As for the women, the trio of Icelyn Elie, Kortni Jones, and Ebony Rowe each collected preseason first team All-Sun Belt honors.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT)  --  A Tennessee State University football player collapsed and died yesterday during an evening practice.

TSU reports that William Wayne Jones, III, a 19-year old freshman defensive back from Smyrna, Tenn., passed out 4 p.m. and couldn’t be revived. He was sent by ambulance to Baptist Medical Center where efforts to resuscitate him failed and he was pronounced dead at 5:50 p.m.

The Associated Press reports Jones collapsed following a series of sprint exercises.

United Way of Bedford County will hold its first Fired Up ‘N Fit challenge Adventure 5 K fundraiser on June 9that the Tennessee Fire & codes Academy in Bell Buckle, TN.  The Adventure Race will include tire leaping, extreme 5k run/walk where participants conquer obstacles, push their limits and celebrate victory at the finish line.  This run includes at least eight obstacles and since it is located at a State certified fire academy there will be challenges on some of the permanent fire training structures. 

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT) --  There's a Tennessee connection to Sunday night’s Oscars.  A documentary shot in Memphis won in the "Best Documentary Feature" category.

The Memphis Commercial Appeal says the inspirational football film “Undefeated” fairly accurately portrays the real-life experiences of Memphis businessman Bill Cortney as he leads the inner city Manassas High School football team to a winning season in 2009 and 10.

The film is also a hit with critics. It has an 83 percent favorable rating on the review site RottenTomatoes.com.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The UCLA Bruins haven't seen days this dark since Steve Lavin was winding down his coaching tenure in Westwood.

LaRon Dendy led five players in double figures with 16 points, and Middle Tennessee State rode its hot shooting to an 86-66 victory on Tuesday night, the Bruins' second stunning loss in four days.

Marcos Knight tied his career high with 15 points for the third straight game, and junior college transfer Bruce Massey had a career-high 14 for the Blue Raiders, who shot 71 percent from the floor and were 10 of 11 from 3-point range.