TODAY’S GAME
Wright State at Morehead State, 7 p.m., 106.5
Players don’t always know all their stats by heart. Sometimes it’s best not to know.
But 6-foot-10 Wright State senior forward AJ Pacher couldn’t help but notice last week that he led the nation in field-goal percentage. Too many friends and fans pointed it out to him via text messages, calls or on Twitter. Some even took photos of their computer screens, showing Pacher’s 87 percent shooting.
“It’s only a matter of time before that starts to come down,” Pacher said. “That’s just the way that goes.”
Pacher shot 2-of-6 in his next game Wednesday against Alcorn State, scoring nine points in a 73-55 victory. His percentage dropped then but rose again Saturday as he made 5-of-6 shoots from the field and scored 18 points in an 85-77 victory over Western Carolina at the Nutter Center.
Through eight games, Pacher still leads the nation in field-goal percentage (79 percent). He has made 28-of-35 shots from the field and averages 11.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Both are team highs.
The Vandalia Butler graduate has a wide lead on the nation’s second-place shooter, Utah’s Delon Wright (75 percent).
“It’s been a good start, especially after an injury and having all that time off,” said Pacher, who underwent foot surgery after last season. “It was hard being away from it. It’s really not me. It’s really my teammates. There have been times where Matt Vest threw me a ball back on a 3-on-1 fast break, and I got an and-one dunk.”
“I’m working pretty hard to get the ball in good positions, and they’re finding me. I’ve just got to do a good job finishing.”
Pacher has been just as sharp from outside the arc, making 6-of-8 3-pointers. A year ago, he shot 9-of-38 (24 percent) from long range.
The Raiders (5-3) play at Morehead State (6-3) at tonight at 7. It’s the continuation of a busy stretch that features five games in 11 days. The last three, including tonight’s game, are on the road.
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