Wright State University
1-0
Miami
0-1
Basketball Wins Season-Opening Thriller at Miami
11/11/2006 12:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Brad Brownell era at Wright State got off to a thrilling start Saturday night as a DaShaun Wood jumper with 0.2 seconds left gave the Raiders a 57-56 win over the Miami RedHawks at Millett Hall in the season opener for both teams.
Miami led most of the way in the first half, including a 23-11 margin after a Monty St. Clair three at the 4:40 mark. WSU, however, closed the half with a 9-2 run, the final three points coming from Wood, to trail only 25-20 at the break.
A Scottie Wilson three from the top of the key tied the game at 31 at the 14:38 mark of the second half and the game was back and forth from there as neither team had more than a three-point advantage.
A free throw by Miami's Carl Richburg put the RedHawks up 52-49 with 1:36 left, but a three from the right wing by Wood 12 seconds later tied the score. The Raiders then went up 55-54 on a fallaway three from the right corner from Vaughn Duggins with 29 seconds remaining, but two Michael Bramos foul shots at the 12.4-second mark put Miami back in front.
That set the stage for Wood's game winner as he drove along the right side of the lane and banked in a short jumper for the game winner. Miami had one last chance, but the desperation pass was broken up by the Raider defense as the horn sounded.
It was WSU first win over Miami since a 51-48 decision at the Nutter Center on November 30, 2003 and the first over the RedHawks at Millett Hall since a 65-59 decision on December 7, 1981.
After shooting 33 percent in the first half, Wright State shot 57 percent over the final 20 minutes to end up at 45 percent while Miami was at 39 percent. The Raiders also hit 13 of 14 foul shots, including all eight attempts in the second half, compared to 12 of 17 for the RedHawks, who were 12 of 16 in the second half. WSU also ended up with a 29-26 rebounding advantage.
Wood led all scorers with 21 points, 16 in the second half, while Duggins, in his collegiate debut, had 13 and Wilson 12 along with eight rebounds off the bench.
Nathan Peavy paced Miami with 20 points.
Wright State returns to action on Sunday, November 19, with a visit to Coastal Carolina for a 2:00 contest.
