WSU Snares First Road Win, Knocks Off Valpo, 62-45

#HLMBB Scoreboard (Jan. 10)
Wright State 62, Valpraiso 45

VALPARAISO, Ind. – Wright State had to return to the scene of its most disappointing defeat to get off the schnide. Limited by injuries, the Raiders held off a furious Valparaiso rally in the second half, claiming its first road win of the year, 61-45, at the Athletics-Recreation Center on Friday.

Wright State (10-8, 2-1 Horizon) was short-handed, missing Kendall Griffin, Matt Vest and JT Yoho, but the backcourt of Miles Dixon, Reggie Arceneaux and Chrishawn Hopkins accounted for 31 of the team’s points.

“It’s our best win of the year,” head coach Billy Donlon said post-game.

Part of the reason was because the Raiders had to survive a furious Valparaiso (9-9, 1-2 Horizon) comeback in the early stages of the second half.

Immediately out of the intermission, Valpo ran a set play for Alec Peters, who drained a 3-pointer from the right wing. After an empty WSU set, a pick-and-roll resulted in a dunk for Vashil Fernandez, drawing the Crusaders within 10 and awakening what had been a largely silent crowd.

Wright State would come back with a bucket, but it would be the lone basket for the Raiders in the first 10 minutes of the second half. Over the next 8:04, Valparaiso methodically closed within 39-38, stirring memories of the Crusaders’ comeback in the late stages of last year’s Horizon League championship game.

“Typical game here. It’s always very tight. I’m proud of our guys, because when you get it to a 1-point game and you have three layups rim out like you’re in the Boston Garden in the 80’s, it’s easy to get down,” Donlon quipped.

However, out of a TV timeout, Wright State would work every second of its possession, as Hopkins drove the lane and kicked to Cole Darling for a 3-pointer in the left corner. Darling’s three pushed the lead back to four and seemed to settle Wright State.

Two minutes later, Jerran Young fed Dixon for a layup after a Valparaiso turnover.

The next trip down, it was Dixon driving against the Valparaiso zone and finding Arceneaux to left side or the arc. Arceneaux stepped into a 3-pointer and knocked it down, pushing Wright State’s advantage to 49-41 with 5:10 remaining.

At the same time, Valparaiso went cold from the floor once more, allowing a 14-3 Wright State run, recording its only three points at the free-throw line. Over a 7:25 stretch, Valparaiso did not knock down a basket, with Peters finally breaking the snap with a tip-in with 3:46 to play.

However, Wright State responded immediately, as AJ Pacher drained a three from the top of the key, pushing the advantage to 56-43 with 2:56 remaining and sealing the result.

The Raiders, who went the Horizon League championship in 2013 only to falter in the final minutes to a more veteran Valparaiso squad, were this time the older team before an ESPNU audience. The Crusaders put six players who were not on the roster for that championship on the court.

Part of the youthful adjustment has been slow starts, and Valparaiso found itself in the hole after recording one basket in the final 9:33 of the first half. In that stretch, Wright State turned a 15-14 advantage into a 37-22 halftime lead, with a three from Hopkins kick-starting the burst.

Arceneaux was one of two Raiders in double figures, stuffing the box score with 10 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Dixon had a game-high 12 points.

Darling, Pacher and Young all finished with nine points for Wright State. Perhaps most pleasing to Donlon was the four turnovers, while forcing 14 Valparaiso miscues.

Jordan Coleman was the lone Crusader in double figures, finishing with 10 points.

Wright State will look to maintain its unbeaten record at the Nutter Center, hosting UIC on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET. The game will be carried on the Horizon League Network Regional TV package, ESPN3 and HLN. Valparaiso will head to Detroit on Jan. 15. HLN will carry the game, which tips at 7 p.m. ET.