Wright State University
4-0,0-0Horizon
Samford
1-2,0-0SoCon
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wright St. | 40 | 50 | 90 |
| Samford | 34 | 32 | 66 |
11/13/2026 11:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM, AL. — Four Raiders scored in double figures as Wright State men's basketball (4-0) continued its unbeaten start Friday night, pulling away for a 90-66 victory over Samford (1-2) at the Pete Hanna Center.
Samford jumped out to an early 7-4 lead, but the Raiders answered to tie the game at 7-7 on a Kellen Pickett 3-pointer. The Bulldogs built a nine-point advantage midway through the first half, leading 22-13 with 9:19 remaining. Wright State steadily chipped away, with Ilija Milijasevic and Andrea Holden helping fuel the comeback before Terrence Hayes knocked down a 3-pointer to tie the game at 30-30 with 3:31 left in the first frame. The Raiders took the lead for good moments later, closing the half with a 10-4 run over the final 3:31. CJ O'Hara's 3-pointer and a pair of free throws from Isaiah Williams helped Wright State take a 40-34 advantage into halftime.
Wright State carried that momentum into the second half, opening with a Holden jumper and a Milijasevic 3-pointer to push the lead to 45-34. The Raiders continued to build separation, with Pickett's 3-pointer at 16:25 stretching the advantage to 54-37. Wright State led by as many as 30 points in the second half before closing out the 24-point victory.Â
Milijasevic led the Raiders with 17 points, connecting on five 3-pointers while adding eight rebounds and three steals. Pickett finished with 16 points, seven rebounds and a game-high six assists, while Holden added 14 points on 7-of-11 shooting with seven rebounds. O'Hara and Hayes each scored nine points, and Chadlyn Traylor added eight points and four assists. Noah Lewis contributed five points, three assists and two steals, while Williams finished with four points and a block.
Wright State shot 36-of-63 (57 percent) from the field, 9-of-18 (50 percent) from 3-point range and 9-of-10 (90 percent) at the free-throw line. The Raiders held a 39-28 rebounding advantage, dished out 17 assists and scored 39 points off the bench. Wright State also recorded four blocks and eight steals. WSU finished with 52 points in the paint.
Samford shot 23-of-59 (39 percent) from the field and 5-of-26 (19 percent) from beyond the arc. Will Shaver led the Bulldogs with 15 points, while Cooper Noard added 10. Isaiah Campbell-Finch and Ty Davis each scored nine points.
Making History
This marks the first season since 2002-03 where Wright State started 4-0. The undefeated Raiders have beaten Air Force and FAU at home, then took home victories against Toledo and Samford on the road. Across the four contests, the average margin of victory has been 22.25 points. In 2002-03, the last time they started the year 4-0, they earned those victories against Akron, Cedarville, Miami and Morehead State, before falling on the road to Ball State. The last time they had more than four wins to start a season was in 1985-86, beginning the year 6-0.
Rising Raiders
Rising Raiders provides free admission to Wright State home events, excluding men's basketball, for students currently enrolled in 12th grade or younger, making it easier for families across the Dayton region to experience Raider Athletics together. It's our way of opening the doors to the next generation and giving young fans the opportunity to discover Wright State, build memories, and become Raiders themselves.
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