Raiders begin weekend road trip with visit to IUPUI

Thursday, January 20

Indianapolis, IN

7:00 PM

Wright State University

IUPUI

Photo by: Josh Gales

1/19/2022 1:35:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Watch on ESPN+Follow Live Stats LISTEN ON WONE 980 AM

DAYTON - The Wright State men's basketball team continues its road trip this weekend with a pair of contests, beginning Thursday in Indianapolis when the Raiders take on IUPUI. Wright State has won seven of its last eight, while IUPUI comes into the matchup having dropped its last 10 contests.

Fans can follow the action several ways - via live stats, by watching on ESPN+ or by tuning in on WONE 980 AM. Chris Collins and Jim Brown will have all the play-by-play on the radio.

THURSDAY: WATCH ON ESPN+ | FOLLOW LIVE STATS | LISTEN ON WONE 980 AM | GAME NOTES

LAST TIME OUT
Playing shorthanded for the second-straight contest, the Wright State men's basketball team came up just short at Youngstown State, falling 90-87 on Saturday night. Wright State played without four individuals within the program's tier one personnel due to COVID-19 protocols, but saw three Raiders finish in double digits as three players played all 40 minutes of game action. Tanner Holden tied a career-best with 27 points, including 20 in the second half, while finishing with 11 rebounds for his second double-double of the season as he added four assists while playing all 40 minutes. Grant Basile poured in 17 first half points on the way to a double-double of his own with 26 points and 10 rebounds as he played 39 minutes. Tim Finke tallied 15 first half points and finished with 18 points as the final Raider in double digits.

A SERIES CALLED JAG(S)
IUPUI is 1-15 overall this season with an 0-6 Horizon League mark. The Jaguars are 1-5 at home, but have lost their last 10 overall, including a Tuesday night contest at Ohio State. This is the second meeting this season, with Wright State winning 72-58 inside the Nutter Center back on January 8.

Wright State and IUPUI have previously met 21 times entering Thursday's action, with the Raiders leading the series 18-3, including winning the last eight matchups, and 11 of the last 12 meetings overall. IUPUI won the first game of the series back on Nov. 29, 1976 (89-84) but the Raiders have had almost all the success in the series. The Jaguars other wins in the series came Feb. 23, 2018 and Jan. 8, 1986. Wright State and IUPUI met in 11 consecutive seasons from the 1976-77 through 1986-87 before the series went dormant for over 30 years.

EYING IUPUI
IUPUI has lost its last 10 games overall and is winnless in six Horizon League contests entering Thursday night. The Jaguars lone win came at home on Nov. 23 against NCAA Division III member Spalding University (Ky.). IUPUI's win over Spalding on Nov. 23 was the first of three straight home games for the Jaguars in what turned out to be their longest homestand of the season. IUPUI was slated for five straight home games from mid-December through January 1, but saw the final three games of that stretch canceled due to COVID issues. IUPUI is coming off of an 83-37 road loss at Ohio State on Tuesday night, where the Jaguars were held to 13 points in the second half as Ohio State forced them into 21 turnovers.

ON THE VERGE
Tanner Holden is on the verge of reaching 500 career rebounds, entering Thursday's contest with 492 career rebounds. Holden is averaging 8.9 rebounds per game this season and has is averaging 6.7 rebounds/game for his career. He will become the 21st Raider to reach 500 career rebounds.

NATIONAL ATTENTION
Tanner Holden (82% FT) has made 109 free throws on 133 total attempts, which both lead the country through Tuesday's games. Holden's 345 total points scored is No. 16 in the country, while his 20.3 points per game average is No. 18 nationally. Grant Basile's rebound work is also among the best in the nation: ranking 26th nationally with 152 total rebounds, No. 28 in the country with his 6.65 defensive rebounds/game average and No. 34 nationally in total rebounds/game average with his 8.9 boards per contest.

40 MINUTE MEN
The Raiders, down to seven total players and five scholarship players in a pair of road contests on Jan. 13 and 15, saw Tim Finke and Keaton Norris play 40 minutes in back-to-back contests, while Grant Basile turned in 40- and 39-minute efforts. Tanner Holden logged 40 minutes in the Jan. 15 game after playing 27 minutes - including the entire second half with three fouls - in the Jan. 13 contest.