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Wright State University Athletics

Raider Bench
Zach Thompson
85
Winner Wright State WRSTM 8-5
81
Georgia Tech GT 5-6
Winner
Wright State WRSTM
8-5
85
Final
81
Georgia Tech GT
5-6
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Wright State WRSTM 31 54 85
Georgia Tech GT 40 41 81

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Communications

Raiders Wreck Georgia Tech

WSU wins at Georgia Tech 85-81

It was Wright State second all-time win against a Power 5 conference team.  WSU defeated Michigan State on Dec. 30, 1999 at WSU's Nutter Center 53-49.  It was the first such win on the road for the Raiders.
12997Down nine at halftime, the Wright State men's basketball team pulled off a huge upset at ACC member Georgia Tech 85-81 late Friday night as five Raiders posted double-figure scoring games.  Loudon Love finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds and Justin Mitchell had 15 points and 10 boards while Grant Benzinger led all Raiders with 22 points.  Cole Gentry had 12 points and Mark Hughes had 10 points and seven assists. 

GAME SUMMARY

First Half Highlights
  • Tech jumped out to a 6-0 lead just to see the Raiders get the next eight straight points for an 8-6 lead at the first media timeout.
  • The Yellow Jackets shot 57% in the first half while WSU shot just under 38%, including 3-11 from three-point range.
  • The Raiders were down almost the entire first half, with the largest deficit at 11.
  • Freshman Loudon Love was 4-5 from the field for nine points and eight rebounds as he added a free throw.
  • The Raiders got eight points from Mark Hughes and Grant Benzinger while Justin Mitchell had four points.
  • Tech's Josh Okogie had 12 points at halftime.

Second Half Highlights
  • The Raiders cut the lead to 44-42 before Georgia Tech called a timeout at 16:40.
  • WSU tied the game at 46 after two free throws from Mitchell at 15:99.
  • Cole Gentry's three pointer at 15:09 gave WSU the lead at 49-48 as he finished with four threes for 12 points.
  • WSU went on a 31-13 run in the first 11 minutes of the second half, resulting in an 11-points cushion.
  • Georgia Tech did get back into the game, taking the lead 77-75 with 2:38 remaining but WSU sealed the game outscoring the Yellow Jackets 10-4 the rest of the game.
  • Benzinger hit an NBA-distance three to give Wright State the edge with 2:14 to go.  The Raiders would not relinquish the lead from that point.
  • Gentry hit a critical three-pointer with 1:06 to go, following a miss by Benzinger and Mitchell rebound.
  • Tech had a chance to tie the game with under 10 seconds, but freshman Jose Alvarado's three-pointer was in-and-out.
  • WSU outscored Tech 54-41 in the second half, shooting a blistering 67%.

FACTS AND FIGURES
  • WSU's bench was a key as they outscored the home team 20-11, with Gentry scoring 12 and Jaylon Hall eight.
  • Wright State hit six more threes than Georgia Tech as WSU forced 18 turnovers.
  • The 54-second half points are the most the Raiders have scored in one half this season.
  • Love registered hit team-leading fifth double-double of the season, and clearly outplayed All-ACC selection Ben Lammers.
  • Mitchell recorded his second double-double in the past three games.  Mitchell led the team last year with six double-doubles.
  • The Raiders finished the non-conference schedule with a record of 8-5.

POST-GAME REACTION

 "I've been involved with Wright State forever, and this is this as good a win as Wright State's had.  To beat an ACC Team on the road is quite an accomplishment."
        -- Radio Analyst and former Wright State Coach Jim Brown

 "We ran the floor very well.  Justin went down the floor once, and they didn't even know he was there, and he shot a layup.  It just helps to have Cole Gentry on the court with his skill and experience, which makes us deeper now, and we can play faster.  The kids fought hard. … This is a good win for our program."
        -- Head Coach Scott Nagy

NEXT UP

  • The Raiders return home after a three-game road swing to start the Horizon League schedule on Thursday, December 28 as they host UIC (5-8) at 7 pm.
  • The game will be shown on ESPN3.

 


 
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