Second half comeback effort comes up just short

Wednesday, December 3

Youngstown, OH / Beeghly Center

6:30 PM

Wright State University

4-5,0-1Horizon

Youngstown State

5-4,1-0Horizon

Wright St.

Youngstown St.

Photo by: Rob Ellis

12/3/2025 10:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

YOUNGSTOWN, OH – A back-and-forth battle that saw four Raiders finish with double digit scoring nights came up just short for the Wright State men's basketball team, who fell 69-68 at Youngstown State in the Horizon League opener for both teams on Wednesday night.

Wright State (4-5, 0-1 Horizon) now returns home to continue Horizon League action on Sunday afternoon when Green Bay visits the Nutter Center in a 5 p.m. tipoff. Fans can follow the action several ways – on ESPN+, via live stats or by tuning in to the Wright State Radio Network – 101.5 FM 'The Fridge' and WING 1410 AM. Chris Collins and Jim Brown will have all the play-by-play action on the radio feed.

On Wednesday, the lead changed 17 times and the sides were tied on seven more instances, including with 46 seconds remaining after Michael Cooper's three-pointer in the corner knotted the game at 67-all. After Youngstown State (5-4, 1-0 Horizon) missed a three-point attempt of its own and fouled Andrea Holden, Holden hit one of two free throws with 24 seconds to play to give the Raiders a one-point advantage. In the closing moments, Youngstown State's Rich Rolf drove to the hoop and was fouled, going to the line to hit both free throws with nine seconds remaining before Wright State's last-second shot from Cooper in the corner bounced out to give the hosts the win.

Michael Imariagbe finished with 15 points to lead Wright State, who also saw TJ Burch tie his career-high with 14 points as he added three rebounds, three assists and two steals. Sam Alamutu turned in 13 points and seven rebounds off the bench, both season-highs for him, while Andrea Holden finished with a complete stat line of 11 points, five blocks, four steals, four rebounds and two assists.

Wright State shot 52 percent overall from the floor while connecting on just three of its 13 three-point attempts (23 percent). The Raiders held Youngstown State to 39 percent second half shooting – 45 percent overall for the night – as they fought back from a 36-29 halftime deficit, but Wright State was 15-of-28 (54 percent) at the free throw line – including a 10-of-17 second half mark.

Youngstown State outrebounded the Raiders 39-23, while Wright State forced the hosts into 17 turnovers that resulted in 24 points off those giveaways.

Cris Carroll finished with a game-high 19 points with seven rebounds for Youngstown State, who also saw Bryson Dawkins (13 points) and Rolf (10 points) finish with double digit scoring efforts in the win.