Raiders find their comfort zone during 14-0 Nutter Center streak

WSU at home

FAIRBORN — Troy Tabler has spent three and a half seasons finding his comfort zone in the Nutter Center.

The Wright State senior guard, one of the team’s best shooters, has settled in at home this season to make 46.9 percent of his shots and 44 percent of his 3-pointers, more than 10 percentage points better than his averages away from the Nutter Center.

Count him as one of the Raiders pleased to be hosting their important weekend matchups.

“There are definitely spots where I feel comfortable shooting,” said Tabler, who averages 12.8 points and 40.2 percent shooting. “I know where I like.”

Tabler’s teammates have also found their comfort zone in the Fairborn building. Entering tonight’s game against visiting Valparaiso, Wright State is riding a 14-game home winning streak and a 23-1 Nutter Center stretch going back to 2008-09.

Standing in a four-way tie for first place in the conference, the Raiders will play two other first-place teams in Valparaiso and Butler on Sunday. In this potentially defining weekend, WSU has the chance to play on its home floor that has been especially friendly lately.

“There are really only two entry points, at the very bottom and very top,” said WSU coach Billy Donlon. “The acoustics in the building are unbelievable, and that helps from an energy standpoint.”

Wright State has played 291 games in the Nutter Center, now in its 21st season, and won 71.5 percent. By comparison, the Raiders have won 59.7 percent of the 1,130 games in their history, which included on-campus home games until the Nutter Center opened for the 1990-91 season.

WSU has collected double-digit win totals at the arena in six straight seasons and is 8-0 entering tonight’s game. In those previous six seasons, the Raiders are 71-16 at home.

With an official basketball seating capacity of 10,449, the Nutter Center is the league’s second-biggest home venue behind Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s U.S. Cellular Arena (10,783). Its size can help when larger crowds fill it, said Wright State freshman Matt Vest.

“When the seats are filled, you look up, then keep looking up, then keep looking up and seeing people,” said Vest, son of WSU Hall of Famer Mark Vest who has attended games in the arena since it opened. “That can be a big difference.”

The Raiders have averaged 3,917 in attendance this season, which ranks second in the league behind Butler (6,882). They are hoping for larger home crowds this weekend for their first-place matchups, for which they also hope the home venue gives them an advantage.

“The lighting is really good, and it’s a shooter’s gym,” said WSU fifth-year senior Vaughn Duggins. “It doesn’t take long to get the depth perception, and it’s really wide open.

“And the nets sound really good when they swish.”

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