Men's Basketball 2/28/2018 9:08:00 AM Communications

Men's Basketball Heads to Detroit

After being picked to finish fifth in the Horizon League, the Wright State men's basketball team will enter the Little Caesars Horizon League Championship this weekend as the number two seed. The Raiders will open play on Saturday at 5:30 pm against the winner of the Green Bay/Detroit Mercy game to be played Friday night.

The Raiders enter the tournament winners of seven of their last 10 games. They concluded the season on Sunday by overcoming a 14-point first-half deficit and defeating UIC 88-81. Loudon Love had a monster game with 23 points and 15 rebounds. Senior Grant Benzinger had 21 points and redshirt freshman Everett Winchester added 19. Winchester put together his two best back-to-back games last weekend, combining for 31 points and 15 rebounds against UIC and IUPUI.

Wright State swept both Green Bay and Detroit Mercy during the regular season. Green Bay, 12-19 (7-11), enters Motor City Madness as the #7 seed. Detroit comes in as the #10 seed, finishing 8-23 (4-14). These two teams just faced each other on Saturday, with Green Bay winning 107-97.

Below are some highlights for each Horizon League team.

1. Northern Kentucky Norse

Preseason Poll: 2nd
Records: 22-8, 15-3
First Regular-Season title
Won last year's tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament
Swept by Wright State during season: 84-81 at NKU; 69-67 at WSU
Will play the winner of Cleveland State/Youngstown State Saturday at 8 pm
All League Honors: Drew McDonald, First Team; Lavone Holland II, Second Team; Jalen Tate, Freshman Team and Defensive Team.

2. Wright State Raiders

Preseason Poll: 5th
Records: 22-9, 14-4
14 league wins is new WSU record for most conference wins
Will play the winner of Green Bay/Detroit Mercy game Saturday at 5:30 pm
All League Honors: Scott Nagy, Coach of the Year; Grant Benzinger, First Team; Loudon Love, Freshman of the Year, Freshman Team, Second Team; Mark Hughes, Defensive Team.

3. UIC Flames

Preseason Poll: 3rd
Records: 17-14, 12-6
Swept by Wright State during the season: 65-61 at WSU; 88-81 at UIC
Will play #6 Milwaukee Sunday at 5 pm
All League Honors: Godwin Boahen, Sixth Man; Tai Odiase, Defensive Player of the Year, Defensive Team.

4. Oakland Grizzlies

Preseason Poll: 1st
Records: 18-13, 10-8
Swept by Wright State during the season: 86-81 at OU (OT); 64-51 at WSU
Will play IUPUI Sunday at 7:30 pm
All League Honors: Kendrick Nunn, Player of the Year, First Team; Jalen Hayes, First Team; Martez Walker, Defensive Team.

5. IUPUI Jaguars

Preseason Poll: 10th
Records: 11-18, 8-10
Split with Wright State during the season: Raiders won 60-52 at WSU; Jaguars won 66-56 at IUPUI
Will play Oakland Sunday at 7:30 pm
All League Honors: None

6. Milwaukee Panthers

Preseason Poll: 8th
Records: 15-16, 8-10
Swept Wright State during the season: 66-61 at UWM; 74-73 at WSU
Will play UIC Sunday at 5 pm
All League Honors: Jeremiah Bell, Second Team.

7. Green Bay Phoenix

Preseason Poll: 6th
Records: 12-19, 7-11
Swept by Wright State during the season: 80-67 at GB; 68-64 at WSU
Will play Detroit Mercy Friday at 5:30 pm
All League Honors: Khalil Small, First Team, Defensive Team.

8. Cleveland State Vikings

Preseason Poll: 9th
Records: 9-22, 6-12
Split with Wright State during the season: Vikings won 77-74 at CSU; Raiders won 72-63 at WSU
Will play Youngstown State Friday at 8 pm
All League Honors: Tyree Appleby, Freshman Team.

9. Youngstown State Penguins

Preseason Poll: 7th
Records: 8-23, 6-12
Swept by Wright State during the season: 77-67 at WSU; 83-57 at YSU
Will play Cleveland State Friday at 8 pm
All League Honors: Cameron Morse, Second Team; Naz Bohannon, Freshman Team.

10. Detroit Mercy Titans

Preseason Poll: 4th
Records: 8-23, 4-14
Swept by Wright State during the season: 80-73 at UDM; 87-55 at WSU
Will play Green Bay Friday at 5:30 pm
All League Honors: Kameron Chatman, Second Team; Jermaine Jackson, Freshman Team.

The season culminates for all teams at the 2018 Little Caesars Horizon League Men's Basketball Championship on March 2-6. This year's tournament will take place in the new, state-of-the-art Little Caesars Arena, located in the heart of The District Detroit. Fans can purchase tickets in the Wright State fan section by visiting here.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

Players Mentioned

#13 Grant Benzinger

#3 Mark Hughes

#11 Loudon Love

Players Mentioned

#13 Grant Benzinger

#3 Mark Hughes

#11 Loudon Love