WSU Stuns Oakland with Last-Minute Rally

#HLMBB Scoreboard (Feb. 16)
Wright State 72, Oakland 71

It wouldn't have been a fitting end to the weekend without a game coming down to the final seconds in the Horizon League. Down 10 points with 2:13 to play, Wright State rallied to stun Oakland, 72-71, at the O'rena.

Wright State (15-13, 7-6 Horizon) won for just the fourth time this year away from home, handing Oakland (10-18, 5-8 Horizon) a bitter defeat. A win would have vaulted the Golden Grizzlies into a tie with the Raiders for fifth in the conference. Now, Wright State has moved a half-game clear of Milwaukee for fourth while Oakland slide into eighth, one-half game behind both Detroit and Youngstown State.

AJ Pacher sank the game-winning layup with 1.7 seconds left, capping a furious rally for Wright State.

Trailing, 67-57, after a Duke Mondy 3-point play with 2:13 remaining, Wright State countered with consecutive 3-pointers from Cole Darling and Reggie Arceneaux to slice the gap to four with 1:22 on the clock. A Pacher layup brought the Raiders within two, but Mondy knocked down two free throws to push the edge back to four, 69-65, with 35 seconds remaining.

On its next possession, Areceneaux found JT Yoho, whose 3-pointer made it a one-point game. Employing a full-court press, Wright State forced an Oakland turnover and Darling capitalized, getting to the free-throw line. The Holt, Mich.-native hit both to give Wright State its first lead of the half.

Mondy would respond for Oakland, driving and earning a trip to the charity stripe. Hitting both with 13.1 seconds left, the senior put the Golden Grizzlies in position for its fourth one-point home win in five games, but Wright State responded via Pacher's leaner.

Darling finished with 21 points, while Pacher scored 15 and grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds for the Raiders, who shot 50 percent from the field.

Oakland was led by Mondy's 20 points and seven rebounds. Ralph Hill had 15 points and Kahlil Felder 14 in the loss. Wright State limited Travis Bader to 1-of-10 shooting and 0-of-3 3-pointers.