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WSU's offense wakes up in second half to top Loyola

Coach’s halftime video session helps WSU get moving on offense.

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By Kyle Nagel, Staff Writer Updated 12:11 AM Saturday, January 28, 2012

FAIRBORN — As the Wright State men’s basketball team shuffled into the locker room for halftime on Friday night, the screen was set up as usual.

On it, WSU coaches showed first-half clips, something second-year coach Billy Donlon began when he was hired.

They had just shot 20.8 percent in the opening frame and trailed last-place Loyola 20-17. The problem, on tape, was obvious.

“We were really just out there standing,” said junior guard Julius Mays. “I wasn’t moving, I think the guys were waiting on me to get something going, they were standing and watching, I was standing and watching.

“If we didn’t have those clips, we probably would’ve come out flat again.”

Instead, Wright State used a 15-0 scoring spurt and late free-throw shooting to outlast an equally ineffective Loyola, 47-41, in front of 4,743 at the Nutter Center.

The Raiders (11-12, 6-5) remained tied with Detroit for sixth place in the Horizon League following their second straight win. Mays led all scorers with 16 points, and Armond Battle added 11 while trying to heed Donlon’s common screams from the bench of “Move it!”

“I know you guys hear him on the sideline,” Battle said. “That’s pretty much it. We try to play with great pace.”

Loyola (5-16, 0-11) took a game-high six-point lead at 27-21 with 15:28 left, and the Raiders responded with their 15-0 run to lead 36-27 with 6:07 left.

The Ramblers got as close as four points twice in the final 3:50, but the Raiders made 5-of-6 free throws in the last 1:01 to beat the Ramblers in a battle between the teams ranked No. 9 (WSU) and No. 10 in the league in scoring.

That’s why coaches encouraged more movement during the halftime video session.

“For this game, from me, they needed a little more emotion,” Donlon said.

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

Next game:

Who: Wright State (11-12, 6-5) at Butler (12-10, 6-4)

When: 7 p.m. Thursday

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

TV: None

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