Raiders Ride a Solid Forty Minutes to a 60-42 Victory over Central Michigan

By Mike Klingshirn

DAYTON, Ohio – The Wright State Raiders turned in their most complete effort of the season on Thursday night to come away with a 60-42 victory over the Central Michigan Chippewas (5-8).

The just concluded four-game homestand began with two resounding defeats to Cincinnati and Ohio University by a combined total of 48 points, but ended on a high note and reason for optimism, with victories over Idaho and CMU.

“I feel that we’re getting into a rhythm as a team,” said Vance Hall. “We’re starting to put things together.”

The Raiders (6-8, 1-1 HL) fell behind by seven points after the first six minutes of play, due in large part to one of Wright State’s all too familiar slow offensive starts. However, a rare five-point trip down the court provided the spark that started the Green and Gold engine.

Trailing 10-3, Vance Hall drained a three-pointer from behind the arc in the right wing. Hall was fouled after the shot, and the Raiders retained possession of the ball, with an inbound possession along the baseline from that spot. Reggie Arceneaux quickly hit a jumper ten feet directly in front of the hoop, drawing Wright State to within 10-8 with 13:15 remaining in the half.

A pair of jumpers by Hall and Arceneaux completed a 9-0 run, giving WSU their first lead of the night at 12-10. Central Michigan reclaimed the lead 19-17 at the 7:34 mark, but a Cole Darling trey on the next possession ignited a 15-1 Raider run, catapulting Wright State to a 32-20 advantage and a 32-23 halftime lead.

A steady dose of excellent all-around play and a 25-12 run over the first fifteen minutes of the second half provided Wright State with their largest lead of the game at 57-35 with 4:47 to play. Vance Hall capped-off the Raider scoring for the night by hitting another trey with 1:32 remaining, sending his team to victory by a final score of 60-42.

Hall played with outstanding toughness. He led the Raiders with 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting and 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. Julius Mays (12) and Reggie Arceneaux (11) also scored in double figures.

“He (Hall) brings a lot to the table,” said Wright State head coach Billy Donlon. “He’s a fearless kid. There is no back down with Vance Hall. He has the intangibles that are hard to find, and the other players on our team rally around it.”

Central Michigan outscored the Raiders 24-10 in the paint, while Wright State held the edge in points off of turnovers (26-8) and bench scoring (23-8). Both teams pulled down 32 rebounds.

Tonight’s contest marked the end of non-conference competition, with the exception of a BracketBuster game in mid-February. How did the non-conference schedule prepare WSU for Horizon League play, which begins in one week at Loyola of Chicago?

“They’re going to be tested in the league,” Donlon said. “But you’re not going to be any more tested than playing at Ohio State, at Florida on a neutral site, against Cincinnati at home, going to Air Force and getting your butt beat, then having come back to play at Miami of Ohio, winning a big game in overtime against Idaho, then two days later (just like in the league) having to play a good Central Michigan team. If you’re trying to get your young guys better, there is no better way to do it in my opinion.”

Postgame Audio

Mays and Hall

Coach Donlon

Photos © and Courtesy of Tim G. Zechar