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Central State heads to Nutter Center to take on Wright State in exhibition

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By Marc Katz, Staff Writer Updated 3:44 AM Thursday, November 5, 2009

FAIRBORN — Central State basketball coach Doug Lewis Jr. knows the consequences of the exhibition game tonight, Nov. 5, at Wright State.

“Regardless if we lose or win the game, it doesn’t count,” said Lewis, whose Marauders are in their second season as an NCAA Division II program.

Still, while the Division I Raiders are looking forward to playing an opponent in front of a crowd, Central State is looking to be as impressive as possible.

“The most important part for us is to get ready for our season,” said Lewis, whose team was 19-8 last season and 40-12 over the past two. “This year, we don’t want to just be good. We don’t just want to win 20 games. We want to go to the NCAA tournament. We want to test the guys early.”

Wright State — 20-13 last season — should provide that test, even though the Raiders will be playing without their two best guards, Vaughn Duggins and John David Gardner.

Duggins is suspended and Gardner is injured, but WSU would seem to be deep enough to give CSU problems, especially inside.

“Depth is always going to be a factor,” Lewis said, “especially on the front line. We have three big players who won’t be eligible until December. We’re going to be thin up front until then.”

That might be good news to WSU’s 6-foot-9 Ronnie Thomas, 6-7 Cory Cooperwood, 6-8 Cooper Land and 6-7 newcomer Paul Darkwa. The Raiders are looking forward to getting more out of their inside players.

Central State counters with its three leading scorers from last season — 6-1 guard Robert Harris of Trotwood, 6-6 forward Gino Smith and 5-5 point guard Cole Prophet. Harris is a transfer from Urbana and Smith from Eastern Michigan.

Prophet is so small, he was ignored by almost everyone when he played at Sandusky High School.

“If he was 6 feet, he’d be at North Carolina or somewhere,” Lewis gushed. “He’s unbelievable. If you can play, it doesn’t matter how small you are.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2157 or mkatz@DaytonDailyNews.com.