NAPLES, FL – The Wright State men's basketball team saw four players tally double-digit scoring afternoons, but Long Beach State scoring on 21 of its last 25 possessions Wednesday afternoon to hand the Raiders an 85-76 loss in the final game of the Naples Invitational.
Wright State (1-5) now regroups before stepping into Horizon League play for the first time this season next weekend, traveling to take on Purdue Fort Wayne and Cleveland State to close what will end up being a seven-game road trip. The Raiders will not return to the Nutter Center until a December 15 meeting with Akron as they jump back over to non-conference play.
On Wednesday, the Raiders took a 57-54 advantage on a
Tanner Holden jumper, only to see Long Beach State tie the contest with a three-pointer moments later in what proved to be Wright States' final lead of the afternoon. Long Beach State scored 31 points from the go-ahead three until the end of the contest, connecting on 54 percent of its shots in the second half and hitting at a 52 percent clip overall for the game.
Holden and
Grant Basile each finished with a team-leading 21 points for the Raiders, while the pair also got it done at the free throw line, combining to go 19-for-23 at the stripe. Both players did a majority of their scoring in the second half, with Basile turning in 19 second half points and Holden scoring 15 after the break.
Trey Calvin finished with 12 points, including nine in the second half, while
Andrew Welage was the final Raider in double figures, turning in 11 points – all from the first half – on a 4-for-8 shooting line with a trio of three-point baskets.
Wright State finished the afternoon shooting 38 percent (23-for-61) from the floor and was 6-for-21 from three-point range. Long Beach State connected at 52 percent (30-for-58) from the floor and was 5-for-17 from three. The Raiders hit 24 of their 30 free throw attempts while the Beach was 20-for-24. Long Beach State outrebounded the Raiders 38-27.