Moon Township, Pa. – The RMU men's basketball team concluded a four-game homestand at the UPMC Events Center Saturday, dropping an 82-67 decision to Wright State. The Colonials dipped to 11-14 (.440) overall during the 2022-23 season with the loss, including 6-8 (.429) in the Horizon League.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
The Raiders shot 52.2 percent (35-for-67) from the field, scoring 54 points in the paint, to close out the Colonials and earn a split in the season series. Wright State opened the contest by connecting on five of its first six shots from the field, including a pull-up jumper and driving layup from Trey Calvin, who scored a game-high 24 points. RMU was able to go shot for shot with the Raiders in the early going, grabbing an 18-14 edge after a three-pointer by junior guard
Josh Corbin, but an 8-0 burst pushed WSU back on top, 22-18, with 11:05 to play in the first half.
QUOTABLE
"The beginning of the game is really where we lost the game," RMU Pat Gallagher Head Coach
Andrew Toole said. "We did not defend for the first 10 minutes. If you're not going to defend for a quarter of the game you can't win. It's now happened three or four times where we score early in the game and we feel like we don't have to guard and there is going to be an endless supply of baskets. We usually end up at the same place at the end of the game from a scoring perspective. It came down to us not guarding."
THE RUN
Wright State grabbed a 53-39 advantage with 16:20 to play when Alex Huibregtse drained a jumper, but the Raiders went over five minutes without a field goal. The Colonials were able to use a 12-0 burst to close to within 53-51 after senior forward
Matt Mayers hit the front end of a pair of attempts at the free-throw line. Calvin ended the drought for WSU with a jumper to give the Raiders some breathing room, but RMU scored the next seven points to grab a 58-55 with 9:57 to go after a fastbreak layup from senior guard
Michael Green III. Wright State called timeout and answered out of the break with a layup from Tim Finke and a three-pointer from the near corner, the first of the game for the Raiders, from Huibregtse, to jump back in front.
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"Both games this weekend were against two of the best programs in the league in Northern Kentucky and Wright State," Toole said. "Those guys have championship DNA. Wright State is the defending champ and Northern Kentucky was in the championship game and have been in an NCAA Tournament, as well. We just did not make the right decisions down the stretch. A lot it of goes back to can you dig in and get stops? When they're going to be at their best with their best player with the ball or their best action or their best set, can you come out and get a stop?"
BACK AND FORTH
Mayers would convert a hook shot with 8:51 to go to tie it, 60-60, and junior guard
Enoch Cheeks pushed RMU back on top, 62-60, with a jumper in a game that featured both 10 ties and 10 lead changes. Freshman
Stephaun Walker added a layup with 6:38 left to match the biggest lead of the game for the Colonials, but the Raiders closed the game with a 22-3 run to earn the victory. Wright State took the lead for good, 66-64, on a three-pointer from Calvin.
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"When we stray from our formula, it's problematic for us," Toole said. "History continues to repeat itself because we don't want to draw the line in the sand. It's a lack of sustained effort. They were 2-for-9 from three in the game and scored 54 points in the paint. It's a lack of defensive effort and sustaining that effort for 40 minutes."
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Cheeks led three Colonials in double figures with 21 points and also added four rebounds and three steals, while fifth-year forward
Kahliel Spear posted his third consecutive double-double, 10th of the 2022-23 campaign and 19th of his career with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Walker added 10 points and five boards for RMU.
UP NEXT
RMU takes to the road for its next two games, traveling to Cleveland, Ohio, Friday, Feb. 10, for a 7:00 p.m. tip against Cleveland State. The Colonials will also visit Purdue Fort Wayne Sunday, Feb. 12, before returning home for a three-game homestand at the UPMC Events Center.
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