Raiders roll Wednesday, advance to #HLMBB Semifinals

Wednesday, March 4

Dayton, OH

7 PM

Wright State University

21-11,15-5Horizon

Cleveland State (HL Championship First Round)

11-22,6-14Horizon

Cleveland St.

Wright St.

Photo by: Joseph Craven

3/4/2026 10:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

DAYTON – The top-seeded Wright State men's basketball team used a 17-3 run early in the second half to roll to a 90-61 first round victory over 10th-seeded Cleveland State in the 2026 Barbasol Horizon League Basketball Championship on Wednesday night inside the Nutter Center.

Wright State (21-11) advances to Monday's semifinals at Corteva Coliseum in Indianapolis, where the Raiders will tipoff at 7 p.m. on ESPNU against the winner of Sunday's second round matchup between No. 5 Green Bay and No. 7 Northern Kentucky.

On Wednesday, the Raiders led for over 38 minutes, but Cleveland State (11-22) hung around in the first half, with Wright State taking a 37-32 lead into the locker room. After trading baskets in the opening possessions of the second 20 minutes, the Raiders went on the 17-3 run that saw five different players chip in scoring during the stretch to push the margin north of 20 points and coast to the finish.

Kellen Pickett finished with a game-high 18 points to lead four Raiders in double figures as he added six rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal to his final stat line. Michael Cooper had 17 points to go along with a game-best seven rebounds, matching his career high, while TJ Burch and Michael Imariagbe each turned in 16 points and five rebounds.

What State shot 55 percent overall with four three-pointers (4-15, 27 percent) while connecting on 20-of-25 (80 percent) of its free throw attempts. Defensively the Raiders held Cleveland State to 35 percent overall shooting as the hosts hit seven three-pointers (7-27, 26 percent) and were 88 percent (14-of-16) at the free throw stripe.

The Raiders outrebounded Cleveland State 44-24 with 32 boards on the defensive glass, while eight players combined to dish out 16 assists as Wright State finished with a 56-18 edge in paint points.

Preist Ryan led Cleveland State with 15 points, while Jaidon Lipscomb has 13 points in the season-ending loss for the visitors.