FAIRBORN — Two days after a loss against Wisconsin-Green Bay that created glassy eyes and quiet voices in the post-game interview room, the Wright State men’s basketball team exploded offensively.
Playing UW-Milwaukee on Sunday, the Raiders shot 57.1 percent and placed four players in double figures in points while winning 70-46 against the same Milwaukee team that drubbed them by 20 points earlier this season.
That was no small feat for a team with the nation’s 12th-lowest average scoring output (58 points per game). It was a performance that provided life to WSU’s hope of hosting a first-round Horizon League tournament game, which goes to teams finishing Nos. 3-6 in the standings after tiebreakers.
The Raiders (12-15, 7-8) enter their final regular-season home game against Detroit on Wednesday and last three Horizon League games in seventh place, one game behind Milwaukee for the sixth spot.
WSU coach Billy Donlon said even though the Raiders will face three of the league’s top five teams in their remaining schedule Sunday’s performance could provide optimism.
“I thought Sunday our guys played every possession like it was a game-winning possession,” Donlon said. “Like I told them after the game, it’s amazing what happens when you do that.”
After hosting Detroit on Wednesday, WSU will break from the league schedule to face Missouri-Kansas City in a road BracketBusters event matchup before traveling to Youngstown State (tied with Detroit for third place) and second-place Cleveland State next week.
“To finally have them go out and do it, they know: A, I can do it, and B, when I do it this way, it’s effective,” Donlon said.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389 or knagel@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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