Wright State led by three with 1:30 remaining, only to see Ohio close the game with a 9-4 run to pull out a 56-54 win in the second round of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT) Saturday in Athens.
The Raiders jumped out to a 13-2 lead six minutes into the game, including three-pointers from Jerran Young, Miles Dixon and Reggie Arceneaux, only to see the Bobcats cut the deficit to 19-18 at the 2:26 mark of the first half following back-to-back triples by Javarez Willis.
A JT Yoho extended the margin to three before a Stevie Taylor jumper at the horn made it 21-20 at the break.
WSU shot just 23 percent in the first half despite hitting 4-of-11 3-pointers while Ohio shot 33 percent overall and was 3-of-7 from behind the arc.
Wright State led by five on three different occasions in the early stages of the second half, but the Bobcats stayed close and went in front 39-37 on an Antonio Campbell layup with 10:19 remaining. Ohio eventually led by five before the Raiders regained the lead with a 10-0 run, eight of those coming from AJ Pacher, to make it 48-43 at the 5:15 mark.
The WSU advantage was three at 50-47 on a Reggie Arceneaux layup with 3:17 left before the Bobcats went in front for good with eight straight points, including two Treg Setty free throws with 32.5 seconds left.
Matt Vest cut the deficit to three with a layup and the Raiders had a chance to pull out the win on a Tavares Sledge basket and a midcourt steal in the final seconds, but Vest's desperation three from there fell short as the game ended.
Ohio shot 52 percent in the second half and 43 percent overall while WSU shot 41 percent after halftime and 32 percent overall.
Pacher, in his final game as a Raiders, scored all 16 of his points in the second half while Vest, also playing in his final game, added 13. Senior Miles Dixon added seven rebounds and five assists while Sledge had 11 rebounds off the bench.
Willis paced Ohio (25-11) with 21 points.
Wright State closes the season with a final record of 21-15.
Tags: Horizon League - Men's Basketball · Wright State - Men's Basketball
