The defense was on display for the Wright State men's basketball team on Saturday as the Raiders held UIC to 23 percent shooting and forced 20 turnovers in a 74-43 first round decision at the Little Ceasar's Horizon League Championship in Detroit.

The Flames scored the first four points of the contest, but WSU would take over from there, going on a 21-4 run over the next seven minutes, including a pair of threes from Daniel Mortensen and one from Mark Alstork. 

UIC closed the gap to 23-17 on a Markese McGuire three with 4:15 remaining in the first half, only to see Wright State score the final 11 points of the period, a run that featured threes by JT Yoho, Mortensen and Mark Hughes, to go up 34-17 at the break.

The Raiders shot 38 percent in the opening 20 minutes, including six of 14 from three-point range, while the Flames shot 22 percent and were just one of eight from behind the arc.

WSU gradually built on its advantage in the second half, with the biggest differential being 69-35 on a Daniel Collie three with 3:02 to play.

Wright State shot 48 percent in the second half, eight of 14 from three, to finish at 43 percent overall and 14 of 28 from behind the arc.  UIC, meanwhile shot 23 percent for the game and was just two of 19 from three.

The Raiders led 26-12 in points in the paint, 12-2 in fast-break points and 17-4 in points off of turnovers as they forced 20 miscues while committing only 10.

Yoho led WSU with 15 points while Mortensen had a season-high 14 off the bench.  In all, 12 players dented the scoring column.

Dikembe Dixson paced UIC (5-25) with a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds.

Wright State (20-12) will face Detroit (16-14), a 92-79 winner over Youngstown State, in second round action Sunday afternoon at 3:30.