Raiders (5-8) win thriller in OT 80-78 over Idaho Vandals (7-5)

Career highs by Julius Mays (28) and Reggie Arceneaux (19) contributed to WSU winning a game that saw 4 lead changes in the last 21 seconds of the overtime period. It was Julius Mays that hit a running jumper just beyond the foul line at the buzzer that gave WSU a much needed victory.

Wright State got off to a much better start in this game, maintaining a lead until the 13:47 mark when Idaho’s Kyle Barone hit a jumper to give the Vandals a 10-9 edge. The game would seesaw back and forth the remainder of the half. Idaho would go into the locker room with a 1 point lead 33-32. The score was tied 5 times and there were 7 lead changes in the first 20 minutes.

Sledge would lead WSU in rebounds with 5 and Julius Mays lead the Raiders in scoring with 9. Idaho’s Barone led all scorers at the half with 10. Field goal shooting was even at 44% and rebounding was close with Idaho holding a slight edge 18-16. WSU had 6 turnovers but several of those were unforced errors (4 of these were in the 8 minutes of the contest).

WSU grabbed the lead briefly to start the second half on a jumper by Tavares Sledge. From this point Idaho took over and built a lead of 7 by the 13:15 mark and maintained the lead until the Raiders tied the score 54 all with 7:26 left in regulation. The Vandals recaptured the lead a minute later and held on until WSU tied it up again 62-62 with 2:37 left.

Idaho hit the second of two free throws to grab a 1 point lead. Reggie hit a jumper to give the lead back to WSU. It appeared that WSU was going to win this game after Reggie drained two free throws with 1.1 seconds left in the game and WSU holding a 69-66 lead. Idaho would have one last shot and that shot was launched from just beyond half court by Landon Tatum. Overtime!

Idaho once again won the tip to start overtime but promptly turned the ball over and proceeded to foul Julius May to compound the error. Julius made 1 of 2 free throws to get scoring started in OT. Like in regulation, the lead changed frequently, 6 times in the final 5 minutes and 4 times in the last 21 seconds. A layup by Idaho’s Starke gave the Vandals a 1 point lead with 4 seconds left. It appeared WSU would lose once again after putting in a magnificent effort. But remember the last 1.1 seconds of regulation?

Julius Mays drove towards the basket and planned to go to the hoop but was cut off by a Idao defender and had to pull up and take the jumper which went in as time expired. Game over – WSU wins 80-78 and the celebration commenced – at least for a few hours…

It’s a quick turnaround for WSU as they face Central Michigan Thursday night at 7 in the Nutter Center.

Postgame Audio

WSU’s Mays and Arceneaux

WSU’s Donlon

Photos © and Courtesy of Tim G. Zechar