Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Wright State University Athletics

Cole Gentry
R. Keith Cole

Men's Basketball Communications

Raiders Head to NKU for Early Show Down

Both Teams have 4-0 League records

An early conference showdown is on tap Thursday night as the Wright State men's basketball team visits BB&T Arena to take on Northern Kentucky at 7 pm.  The teams are tied at 4-0 on top of the Horizon League as the Raiders have won five straight with an overall record of 12-5.  The Norse are currently 11-5 overall.  The game will be shown live on ESPN3 and aired on 106.5 FM and iHeart app.

Wright State is coming off a weekend when swept games at Detroit Mercy 80-73 and at Oakland 86-81.  It was the first time WSU won both games on the same trip to Michigan.  Loudon Love received his third Freshman of the Week Award in four weeks as he posted two double-doubles, including career highs of 25 points and 17 rebounds against the Horizon League preseason favorite Grizzlies Sunday afternoon.  He also had 13 points and 14 rebounds at Detroit Mercy Friday night.  Love has six double-doubles on the season. 

Grant Benzinger continues to lead the Raiders at 14.6 points per game after posting his own double-double at Oakland of 14 points and 10 boards.  Mark Hughes had his career-best 19 points at Oakland and averages 9.6 points.

The 4-0 league start ties the best start ever as WSU did so in 2005-06 and 2012-13.  The Raiders are in the middle of five of six games on the road and currently hold a 4-4 road record.  NKU is 7-0 at home this season.

In the latest Mid-Major Poll, Northern Kentucky was ranked 24th and the Raiders 26th.  In the Horizon League, NKU is first for scoring defense while the Raiders rank a close second.

Wright State leads the overall series 21-10 but NKU leads 3-2 since joining the Horizon League.  NKU visits the Nutter Center on February 16.

Northern Kentucky Norse
  • NKU, picked second in the preseason poll, has won four straight after going 7-5 in the non-conference schedule. 
  • Preseason Player of the Year Drew McDonald leads NKU at 16.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game and has six double-doubles on the season.
  • McDonald's season-high 27 points came against IUPUI. 
  • McDonald is currently sixth in HL scoring while Benzinger is eighth.  He is third in rebounding while Love leads the league.
  • Lavone Holland II was selected to the preseason second team.  He averages 13.2 points per game and joined the NKU 1,000-point Club last week.
  • Holland hit a jumper with 3.3 seconds remaining to give NKU the win at Detroit Mercy.
  • Carson Williams also averages in double figures at 14.4 and leads the Horizon League in field goal percentage at .664.
  • The Norse also swept the games in Michigan last weekend, winning 87-83 at Oakland and 56-54 at Detroit Mercy.  McDonald had 16 points and nine rebounds at UDM.
 
Next Up
  • The Raiders come home to host Youngstown State next Monday at 4 pm.  The game will be shown on ESPN3 and aired on 106.5 FM.
  • YSU, 5-11 and 3-0, play Wednesday night at Oakland and Friday at Detroit Mercy before coming to Dayton.
Horizon League Standings as of 1/10/18
 
School Name Conf Overall Streak


Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Grant Benzinger

#13 Grant Benzinger

G
6' 3"
Senior
Mark Hughes

#3 Mark Hughes

G
6' 4"
Junior
Loudon Love

#11 Loudon Love

C
6' 9"
Redshirt Freshman

Players Mentioned

Grant Benzinger

#13 Grant Benzinger

6' 3"
Senior
G
Mark Hughes

#3 Mark Hughes

6' 4"
Junior
G
Loudon Love

#11 Loudon Love

6' 9"
Redshirt Freshman
C