DAYTON - The Wright State men's basketball team looks for a second-straight Horizon League win to begin the conference slate on Saturday afternoon as the Raiders take on Cleveland State.The contest will be the finale of a seven-game road trip for the Raiders, while Cleveland State wraps up a seven-game homestand with the 3 p.m. tipoff. Wright State is coming off of a 13-point win at Purdue Fort Wayne on Thursday night, while the Vikings were winners at home over Northern Kentucky.
Fans can follow the action several ways - via live stats, by watching on ESPN+ or by tuning in on WZDA 103.9 FM, the new home of Raider Basketball on the radio. Chris Collins and Jim Brown will have all the play-by-play on the radio.
SATURDAY: WATCH ON ESPN+ | FOLLOW LIVE STATS | LISTEN ON WZDA 103.9 FM | GAME NOTES
LAST TIME OUT
Wright State snapped a five-game losing streak with an 86-73 road victory at Purdue Fort Wayne in the Horizon League opener for both teams. The Raiders saw four players turn in double-digit scoring nights in the win, led by
Tanner Holden's 22 points, while
AJ Braun turned in 17 points in his first collegiate start on 8-of-9 shooting.
Grant Basile's 19 points and a 14-point effort from
Trey Calvin finalized the top scoring, while all four filled their stat lines in various ways. Basile's eight rebounds were a game-best, while Holden pulled down seven boards of his own. Calvin passed out five assists and had a pair of steals, and Braun tallied two rebounds and an assist in 25 minutes of action.
FAMILIAR FOES
Wright State's Saturday contest against Cleveland State will add to the already-longest series all-time in Raider history. The Raiders and Vikings have met 77 times previously, with Wright State coming away with 42 wins. 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).
THE VIKING AGE
Cleveland State enters Saturday 5-2 overall and 1-0 in the Horizon after a Thursday win over Northern Kentucky. Six of Cleveland State's seven contests to date have been at home. The Raiders and Vikings split the doubleheader last year at the Nutter Center in mid January, with the Raiders falling by two in the first meeting before a 36-point bounce back win the next day. Wright State has won 11 of the last 14 contests in the series overall.
BELIEVE-LAND
Cleveland State is 5-2 on the season overall, but the record features wins over Division II Edinboro and Division III Penn State-Behrend. Other victories include wins over Canisius and Coppin State before a HL-opening win over Northern Kentucky. The Vikings have lost at BYU and at home against Ohio. Following its Thursday win, Cleveland State has now won five straight games and opened Horizon League play with a victory for the second year in a row. Cleveland State returns 14 letterwinners from last season's Horizon League-winning squad, including all five members of the starting rotation. Torrey Patton's 13.5 points per contest leads the team entering Saturday, while D'Moi Hodge is also averaging double-digits at 12.7 points per game. Patton's 6.5 rebounds per game leads the team in that mark as well.
ADD 'EM UP
Wright State's Saturday contest against Cleveland State will add to the already-longest series all-time in Raider history:
Wright State most-played opponents:
1) Cleveland State – 77 meetings (42 Raider wins)
2) Green Bay – 67 meetings (34 Raider wins)
3) Milwaukee – 66 meetings (35 Raider wins)
4) UIC – 64 meetings (34 Raider wins)
t5) Detroit Mercy - 63 meetings (36 Raider wins)
t5) Youngstown State – 63 meetings (49 Raider wins)
FOLLOWING UP
After Saturday's contest, the Raiders will have a quick breather next week as they wrap up the fall academic calendar. Wright State will return to action at home on December 15 against Akron to begin a stretch where the Raiders will play five of their next six contests at home inside the Nutter Center.
