Wright State University
6-7
Eastern Illinois
3-7
Balanced Attack Leads Men to Win Over Eastern Illinois
12/19/2013 5:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Behind a balanced attack, the Wright State men's basketball team rolled to a 70-43 win over Eastern Illinois Thursday night at WSU's Nutter Center.
The Panthers led 21-19 following a Sherman Blanford three-point play with 6:44 remaining in the first half, only to see the Raiders close the period with a 12-2 run, four of those coming from Miles Dixon, to go up 31-23 at the half.
Eastern Ilinois shot 44 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes compared to 42 percent for Wright State, but the Raiders forced 12 turnovers while committing only four, resulting in an 11-2 points off of turnover differential. WSU was also a perfect nine for nine at the foul line while the Panthers were four of six.
A WSU 13-0 run over a five-minute span extended the margin to 60-35 with 5:55 to play and the advantage grew to as much as 28 on two occasions down the stretch.
Wright State scorched the nets in the second half, hitting 14 of 20 shots to finish at 55 percent overall, including seven of 13 from three-point range. The Raiders were also 15 of 18 at the foul line and led 30-24 in points in the paint and 20-9 in points off of turnovers. EIU, meanwhile, shot 41 percent for the game.
WSU had no one reach in double figures, but had nine players score between six and nine points, led by Dixon and Hopkins with nine, both off the bench, as the Raiders led in bench points 33-13. Darling and Arceneaux had eight, Yoho, Pacher, Vest and Young seven a piece and Steven Davis six.
Blanford posted a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds to pace Eastern Illinois (3-7) while Alex Austin had 10.
Wright State (6-7) hosts UMKC Saturday at 7:00.
