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WSU continues to play tough in close finishes

4 of 5 Horizon games have been tied in last 3 seconds of regulation or overtime.

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By Kyle Nagel, Staff Writer Updated 12:34 AM Sunday, January 8, 2012

FAIRBORN — In the final seconds against Butler on Friday night, the Wright State men’s basketball team was in a familiar position.

That is, close. The game was tied until Butler’s Ronald Nored sank a free throw with 2.7 seconds left, setting the final margin in a 63-62 loss that broke Wright State’s four-game winning steak. It was the fourth time in WSU’s five Horizon League games that the score was tied in the final 3 seconds of regulation or overtime.

“Everyone’s at the same level, I think, in the league,” said WSU senior Johann Mpondo, who scored 12 points against Butler. “Anybody can beat anybody on any given night, you just have to come out and play hard.”

The Raiders will get their next chance today with a visit from Valparaiso hoping to improve on a league record of 3-2. WSU coach Billy Donlon regularly stresses the importance of home league games, in which the Raiders are 1-2 this season. They have been more difficult to win lately, as the Raiders are 5-5 in their last four Horizon League games at the Nutter Center (33-4 in the previous 37).

Reaching that 3-2 league record has come with heart-thumping finishes. They have included:

• A tip-in by Cleveland State’s D’Aundray Brown with 0.3 seconds left in a 45-43 loss.

• A free throw by WSU’s Armond Battle with 1.4 seconds left against Youngstown State in a 63-62 win.

• A 74-70 overtime win against Illinois-Chicago.

• Nored’s free throw with 2.7 seconds left in Friday’s loss against Butler.

Donlon said league teams have to overcome results quickly with two games in three days.

“As I told our kids in the locker room, we’re not all of a sudden a terrible team because we lost by one,” Donlon said. “I’m disappointed, but the big key is how we bounce back (today).”