Wright State University
10-9, 2-3HL
Valparaiso
17-3, 4-1HL
Raiders Fall to Valpo
1/17/2015 5:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The men's basketball team overcame an early 11-point deficit and led by four in the second half before a 9-0 Valparaiso run late carried the Crusaders to a 66-56 Horizon League decision Saturday night in front of 7,664 fans at WSU's Nutter Center.
Valparaiso scored the first six points of the contest and led 24-13 on a Darien Walker layup with 7:36 remaining in the first half. The margin was nine before the Raiders closed the period by scoring the final seven points, including a Reggie Arceneaux three, to cut the deficit to 29-27 at the break.
The Crusaders shot 39 percent from the field, but just one of six from three-point range, while WSU shot 38 percent overall and was three of nine from behind the arc.
A Kendall Griffin layup gave Wright State its first lead of the night at 31-30 with 17:56 to play and the Raiders enjoyed their biggest lead at 36-32 on a Justin Mitchell jumper four minutes later. WSU still was up two on a pair of Chrishawn Hopkins free throws at the 9:09 mark before a layup and three from E. Victor Nickerson put Valparaiso ahead to stay at 43-40.
A Michael Karena basket and a Joe Thomasson kept Wright State close at 46-45 before the Crusaders broke the game open with a 9-0 burst to push the advantage into double figures with 2:47 left.
Grant Evans connected on a three at the 1:55 mark to make it 56-51, but the Raiders would get no closer as Valparaiso tallied the next six points to put the game out of reach.
Valpo shot 41 percent for the game and was 19 of 27 at the foul line while WSU shot 38 percent and was nine of 14 at the stripe. The Crusaders dominated the boards by a 46-25 margin, 17-5 on the offensive end, and led in points in the paint (32-18) and second-chance points (18-3).
Wright State, playing without leading scorer and rebounder JT Yoho, who was out with an injury, was led by Arceneaux's 10 points while Hopkins had nine and Mitchell eight.
Four starters scored in double figures for Valparaiso (17-3, 4-1 Horizon), led by Vashil Fernandez's 14, Darien Walker with 13 and Alec Peters and Tevonn Walker each with 11.
Wright State (10-9, 2-3 Horizon) begins a three-game road swing on Tuesday, January 20, with an 8:00 Eastern contest at Milwaukee.
