Last year, the situation would have worked out differently for Sims and Middle Tennessee. Sims would have been content not taking the shot and making the extra pass. 

Sims, after an excellent shooting performance during shoot-around earlier in the day, was the only thing MTSU had going for it early as the sophomore point guard scored the first six points for the Blue Raiders to get them going.

Freshman Donovan Sims, in his second career start, had six points, six assists and four steals.

Most of Middle Tennessee's basketball newcomers weren't granted the opportunity to spend a lot of time on campus or in the City of Murfreesboro before they arrived as a student-athlete. Freshman Donovan Sims is different.

It’s an unlikely pairing. Sims is a 6-foot, 165-pound freshman out of Blackman High, new to this life-on-the-road business and still learning the ropes of Division I basketball. The 19-year-old comes off the bench for MTSU, providing a nice spark in limited minutes. His collegiate career is just beginning.

In every way, King is his opposite.

"Donovan really settled in and made some great plays for us," Davis said of his freshman point guard. "He really sees the floor well but what he did tonight, too, was guard the ball really well. I am very proud of his play tonight."

The name Donovan Sims is a familiar one within the Murfreesboro city limits. The former Blackman Blaze standout didn’t have too far to travel when he embarked for college, only moving a few minutes down the road to MTSU.

Get the latest news, stats, videos, highlights and more about Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Donovan Sims on ESPN.com.