First Place Raiders Host Michigan Teams

The first place Wright State men's basketball team comes home to host Detroit Mercy on Friday at 7 pm and Oakland Sunday at 2 pm.

The Raiders swept both teams during their trip to Michigan earlier this month, winning at Detroit Mercy 80-73 and at Oakland in overtime 86-81. Benzinger had 23 points in the UDM win as Love posted a double-double. Love had his career highs of 25 points and 17 rebounds at Oakland.

Senior Grant Benzinger leads the Raiders at 14.6 points per game, and freshman Loudon Love averages 11.4 points and leads the team and the Horizon League with 9.1 rebounds per game. On Monday, Love was named the HL Freshman of the Week for the fourth time in six weeks. A Wright State player has received the honor six times this year, with Everett Winchester recognized twice early in the season.

The Raiders are coming off a loss at Milwaukee last Saturday, snapping an eight game winning streak. Poor shooting plagued the team as they shot 39% overall, and 29% from beyond the arc. Grant Benzinger, Mark Hughes and Cole Gentry struggled, going 5-22 from the field collectively. Those three players had shot 17-29 in a Thursday night win at Green Bay, the first game of the Wisconsin swing.

Wright State is currently in a first place tie with Northern Kentucky, posting 7-1 records.

DETROIT MERCY

The high-scoring, up-tempo Titans average a Horizon League best 81.7 points per game, which ranks them 35th nationally. They rank last in the HL in points allowed, at 86.4.
They're coming off a 92-86 loss to hometown rival Oakland.
Three UDM players average in double figures: Kameron Chatman at 17.9, Corey Allen at 16.7 and Jermaine Jackson, Jr. at 12.5.
Chatman leads the team in rebounding at 8.9 per game.
Pre-season second team all-conference Jaleel Hogan hasn't played since January 7. He's averaging 8.1 ppg, down from 16 last season.
The Titans started the year at 4-2 but have gone 2-13 since.
The Raiders have won 10 of the last 13 contests, and lead the overall series 30-26.

Friday night is packed with special promotions and giveaways:

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Night will include a variety of base-themed activities and entertainment, including a swearing-in ceremony at halftime
It's the second fan t-shirt promotion of the season. The first 5000 fans will receive a military-inspired t-shirt.
Fan-favorite ZOOperstars! will perform at halftime.
Samaritan's Feet Awareness - Wright State Athletics and head coach Scott Nagy would like to encourage all Raider fans to bring a NEW pair of boys or girls athletic shoes to the game. Your donations will be a difference in the lives of children and adults in the Dayton area. Collection boxes will be located at Gates 3 and 9. You can also make a monetary donation at Samaritans Feet.org/Coach Nagy

OAKLAND

Going into Thursday's game at NKU, Oakland has won four straight after starting the conference season 1-3.
Kendrick Nunn leads the Grizzlies, and the league, in scoring at 26.4 and was named the Horizon League Player of the Week on Monday - the third time he's earned that honor.
He averaged 35 points and 7.5 rebounds last week, including a career-high 38 points at Detroit Mercy on Saturday. He's recorded eight 30-point games on the season.
Jalen Hayes averages 19.5 ppg/8.4 rpg, and Martez Walker 18.6/4.1.
Nunn, Hayes and Walker comprise a whopping 79% of Grizzlies scoring.
Nunn had 32 points against Raiders at Oakland earlier.
Oakland, 15-8 (5-3), leads the League in three-point shooting at 38% and free throw shooting at 78.1%.

The Athletic Department will honor over 200 student-athletes from all sports at halftime as part of the annual Academic Recognition Day.

Also, the final player autograph session will be held after the game in the Raider Pub, and a post-game party will take place at Milano's in Beavercreek (2260 North Fairfield Rd.)

NEXT UP

The Raiders will play at Cleveland State February 1, and at Youngstown State February 3. Both games start at 7 pm.
For the Cleveland State game, the Big Hoopla will co-host the final Watch Party of this season at Milano's in Beavercreek. Raider and Hoopla prizes will be given out throughout the evening.

Horizon League standings as of 1/25/18

School Name	Conf	Overall	Streak
Wright State	7-1	15-6	L1
Northern Kentucky	7-1	14-6	W3
Oakland	5-3	13-8	W4
UIC	5-3	10-11	W2
Youngstown State	4-4	6-15	W1
IUPUI	4-5	7-13	L2
Milwaukee	3-6	10-12	W1
Green Bay	3-7	8-15	L2
Detroit Mercy	2-6	6-15	L2
Cleveland State	2-6	5-16	L1

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Players Mentioned

#13 Grant Benzinger: G; 6' 3"; Senior

#31 Cole Gentry: G; 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore

#3 Mark Hughes: G; 6' 4"; Junior

#11 Loudon Love: C; 6' 9"; Redshirt Freshman

Players Mentioned

#13 Grant Benzinger
: 6' 3"; Senior
: G

#31 Cole Gentry
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore
: G

#3 Mark Hughes
: 6' 4"; Junior
: G

#11 Loudon Love
: 6' 9"; Redshirt Freshman
: C