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WSU coach wants team to spread ball around

Raiders coach wants other players to step up when game gets tight.

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By Kyle Nagel, Staff Writer Updated 12:30 AM Friday, January 27, 2012

FAIRBORN — It took just less than 2 minutes of game time on Wednesday for Julius Mays to score. The junior guard on the Wright State basketball team took the ball near the lane and sank a jumper from the foul line, causing many in the Nutter Center crowd to breathe a sigh of relief.

Mays, Wright State’s leading scorer, missed the previous game with an injury to his left Achilles tendon and calf muscle. The black sleeve on his left leg caused some to worry he couldn’t contribute as much.

Then Mays went on to score 33 points, including a 19-of-20 performance from the free-throw line that set a school record for makes at the foul line. The 19 free throws also tied a Horizon League single-game record, and his 33 points composed the best scoring performance in the league this season.

But WSU coach Billy Donlon had a concern about Mays’ game. Heading into tonight’s home game against Loyola, he wants the Raiders to look beyond Mays when times get tough.

“Oh, yeah,” Donlon said when asked if other players at times look for Mays too much. “In a way, as a coach, you want the ball in your best player’s hands. It’s a conundrum. But I think during a game when (the opponent is) on a run, and there are six, seven, 12 minutes left, it’s too early to be looking for your guy.”

Mays, though, leads the Horizon League in scoring in conference games at 17.7 points per game. He also ranks third in free-throw shooting (87.3), fourth in steals (1.7), fifth in minutes (34.0) and ninth in 3-point shooting (45.5).

With the hurdle of his return cleared, the Raiders are hoping more players show confidence. On Wednesday, freshman guard Reggie Arceneaux scored 10 points (he is second on the team with 9.1 ppg), and senior forward Johann Mpondo also scored 10.

“I’m really just trying to do whatever my team needs me to do,” Mays said. “If that’s a night where I need to score, that’s what I’ll do. If it’s a night where I need to get everybody involved when a team is keying on me and really trying to force other people to make plays, I’ll get the ball in their hands.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389 or knagel@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Today’s game:

Who: Loyola (5-15, 0-10) at Wright State (10-12, 5-5)

When: 7 p.m.

Radio: WBZI-FM (100.3), Info 1660 AM

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