The Wright State men's basketball team returns home for the first time this calendar year when it hosts Cleveland State on Thursday night to start a three-game homestand. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. inside the Nutter Center, where it will be $2 Beer Night. The Horizon League-leading Raiders have won eight of their last nine games and have a 7-2 record at home inside the Nutter Center this season. Cleveland State begins this week 7-11 overall and 3-2 in HL play as it opens a weekend road trip.


WATCH ON ESPN+ | FOLLOW LIVE STATS | LISTEN ON WRZX 106.5 FM | GAME NOTES | TICKETS

Last time out, Wright State fell 76-72 at UIC on Sunday to snap the Raiders' eight game winning streak in what was the team's first true-road loss this season. Down by 12 points with just under four minutes remaining, Wright State used a 10-0 run to pull within two at 72-70 with 1:13 remaining, but UIC was 4-of-4 at the free throw line in the final 23 seconds to hold onto the win. The Raiders held UIC scoreless from the floor over the final 4:01, but ended the afternoon hitting just one of their final eight attempts while going 6-of-9 from the free throw line over that stretch. Four Raiders finished the afternoon in double figures scoring, led by Bill Wampler's 16 points and 15 points & 11 rebounds from Loudon Love.

THE VIKING AGE
Sunday will be the 74th meeting all-time between Wright State and Cleveland State, with the Raiders holding a 39-34 advantage and having won the last four matchups. The Raiders have won eight of the last 10 meetings overall, and four in a row in the series at home inside the Nutter Center. The first-ever meeting came Feb. 12, 1972, a Cleveland State 72-62 win in Cleveland. The first matchup in Dayton came Jan. 21, 1974 a 69-45 Raider win (third meeting overall).

BELIEVE-LAND
Cleveland State lost at home to Oakland on Saturday to snap what had been a three-game Horizon League winning streak. The Vikings dropped their league opener at UIC before rattling off wins against IUPUI, Detroit Mercy and Youngstown State. The Vikings have featured balanced scoring in their seven victories this season as four players are averaging in double figures. Algevon Eichelberger (15.2), Torrey Patton (13.0), Craig Beaudion (12.1) and Tre Gomillion (10.6) each average double figures in CSU wins. Torrey Patton is averaging 14.6 points and a team-high 6.4 rebounds per game in HL play, shooting 58.0 (29-of-50) percent from the floor and 75.0 (6-of-8) percent from the three-point line. He was named the Horizon League Player of the Week on Jan. 6. The Vikings 3-2 start in league play is their best start in Horizon League play since beginning the 2014-15 season with a 4-1 start.

HOME (FINALLY) ON THE HORIZON
Wright State returns home to start a much-needed homestand, playing inside the Nutter Center for the first time this calendar year. The Raiders played four of their first six Horizon League games on the road, a mark only matched by Northern Kentucky, who has also played just two home games entering this weekend's action. Wright State's eight wins away from the Nutter Center (six road, two neutral) are more than the total number of victories for six different HL programs.

ROAD WARRIORS
While they may no longer be undefeated on the road, the Raiders' six true road victories is tied for the most in the NCAA this season with current No. 1 Gonzaga. Both teams will be stuck at six for a while, with each setting out on a three-game homestand this week. The 'Zags next go on the road Jan. 30, while the Raiders trek to Milwaukee on Jan. 31.

MID-SEASON LOVE WATCH
Junior center Loudon Love was named to the Lou Henson Award mid-season Watch List, announced on Jan. 9. The award is presented annually to the nation's top Division I mid-major player. Love was previously named to the award's preseason watch list released in November. The 2019-20 Lou Henson National Player of the Year Award will be announced in April 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia.