The free-throw line is a second home for Wright State players. Coach Billy Donlon makes the players shoot 50 free throws after practice every day, and their goal is to make at least 75 percent.

That’s why the Raiders — in particularly, Miles Dixon and Jerran Young — looked so comfortable at the line Wednesday against Miami. If they had taken off their shoes and laid back in a La-Z-Boy recliner at the line, they couldn’t have looked more relaxed.

Wright State made 30-of-38 free throws in a 67-59 victory over the RedHawks at the Nutter Center, improving to 8-3 with a third straight victory in the series. Dixon and Young, both junior college transfers from Texas, scored a season-high 21 and 19, respectively, and they combined to make 22-of-26 free throws.

“One thing I say to myself in my head when I’m shooting free throws is, ‘No pressure,’” Young said. “Just shoot it to make it.”

Miami, which had four players foul out, was whistled for three technical fouls in the second half. The most important, assessed to Quinten Rollins, came with 1 minute, 11 seconds to play. Wright State was nursing a 55-53 lead when there was a scramble for the ball at midcourt and then some minor pushing.

The officials called a technical foul and personal foul on Miami on the play. Dixon drained both technical shots, and Young made 1-of-2 after that. That sequence decided the game once and for all.

“Technical free throws are a part of the game,” said Dixon who scored 17 in the second half. “We knocked them down. Free throws are a part of the game. I’m glad we shot well at the line. I’m proud of the team for that.”

The Raiders outscored Miami 30-11 at the line. They also won the rebound battle 42-27. Miami stayed in the game by making 8-of-18 3-pointers.

All in all, it was an ugly game, which featured 40 turnovers and 50 fouls. But the Raiders will take the win. They’re off to their best start since 2007-08 when they were also 8-3. They now own their longest winning streak against Miami since they won four in a row from 1978-81.

The RedHawks, who were playing their first game since Dec. 8, lost their fourth game in a row to fall to 3-6 under first-year coach John Cooper.

“This is the seventh time I’ve been a part of this series, either as an assistant or as the head coach,” Donlon said. “The game is so meaningful to both sides. You can see it with their kids. You can see it with our kids. You don’t really need to worry about records. The physicalness, there was nothing out there that took place that was egregious. It was just 10 guys on the floor really trying to find a way to win for their teams. It was a difficult game to officiate.”

The Raiders had a comfortable 44-34 lead with 6 minutes to go when they lost Reggie Arneneaux to an injury. He went head over heels after a Miami player faked a shot and Arceneaux landed with a loud thud.

The Nutter Center immediately went quiet as the trainers and Donlon rushed to Arceneaux’s side. He rose after a few minutes and walked off under his own power, holding a bandage to his bloody head. He didn’t return.

“He talks about how he’s from New Orleans and the Ninth Ward, and I just went down and told him, ‘You’re from the Ninth Ward, get back up and let’s get ready to rock and roll,’” Donlon said. “I think he’s going to be all right. What that man has been through in his life. He’s got a wonderful family. His mom and dad are incredible people. They were here for the VMI game.

“In the book of famous cliches, where it says it’s not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog, Reggie’s picture should be next to that cliche, because that’s who that young man is.”

The Raiders missed Areceneaux because they had some trouble bringing the ball up the court in the final minutes.

“The game got really ugly in the last 5 minutes,” Donlon said. “We’ve got to get other guys who can dribble the basketball. We lost Reggie, and the whole game changed. There’s no ifs, ands or buts about it. Miami kept playing. They stayed in the game. That’s who those players are. They’re never going to quit. But the whole game changed when we couldn’t make a pass in the half court.”

The Raiders kept getting to the line, however, and that was the difference. Three of the team’s top scorers on the year, Cole Darling, Matt Vest and Arceneaux, combined for 15 points on 5-of-19 shooting, but as has often been the case this year, different players stepped up. On this night, it was Young and Dixon.

“It feels great representing Wright State and being 8-3,” Dixon said. “We take pride in winning. We take pride in our defense. I think all the guys are happy to be 8-3.”