Raiders men defeat Oakland for a trip to the Finals

After falling to Oakland twice in the regular season, Wright State men’s basketball team held the top-scoring offense in the nation to 32 points less than their season average with a 59-55 victory at Joe Louis Arena on Monday, Mar. 7.

“Wright State defense, that’s what we focus on,” senior forward JT Yoho said.  “We wanted to hold the ball and run some clock.

They’re used to scoring 89 points.” “I’m really proud of our team,” Raiders head coach Billy Donlon said.

“They followed the plan, believed in the plan and most importantly believed in each other and played for the name on the front of the jersey, Wright State University.”

Horizon League Player of the Year Kay Felder struggled in the first half with just three points on 1-9 shooting, but began the second half on fire as he shot 4-4 for 12 points in the opening 8:05.  The crowd erupted as Felder sank a three to cut the Raiders lead down to two-points at 44-42 to cap a 10-2 run over a four-minute span. After an 8:10 scoring drought saw Oakland take a 47-44 lead, Yoho fired back for WSU with six straight points, regaining the lead twice.

Forward Jalen Hayes retaliated for the Golden Grizzlies with seven straight points, also regaining the lead twice for his team, before freshman forward Daniel Mortensen drained a three to give the Raiders a 53-52 lead with 2:48 remaining.

Felder drained a pair of free-throws to put Oakland up one with 1:52 remaining, before senior guard Biggie Minnis made a jumper with 58 seconds to go.  Felder tied the game on a free-throw, then missed the second, setting up a game-winning jumper by Yoho with 24 seconds remaining.  Yoho finished with 15 points.

“The best player on the floor at the most important time of the game was this young man sitting next to (Yoho),” Donlon said.  “He made all of the plays to win the game offensively for our team.” “All of the credit goes to my teammates for getting me the ball in those spots,” Yoho said.

The Raiders fell behind 7-2 early as sophomore guard Mark Alstork kept them in the game with their first 4 points, before Max Hooper sank a 3 to put Oakland up 10-4 after 5:11.

WSU battled back as Mortensen drained back-to-back three-pointers to tie the game at 13, then gave the Raiders their first lead of the contest at 16-15 with 7:56 remaining in the half.
Alstork drained a three on the Raiders next possession as the Raiders continued a 20-5 run over an 8:57 time-span for a 10-point advantage with 3:39 remaining.

Alstork made five of his first six shots and finished with 12 points in the half as WSU led 33-25.

After a Minnis jumper at the 14:59 mark, the Raiders fell cold as their next field goal did not occur for another 8:10 after Oakland took control of a 47-44 lead. Alstork finished with a game-high 18 points, as did Felder.

Hayes finished with 14 for Oakland. Wright State (21-12; 15-5 Horizon) will play Green Bay (21-12; 11-7 Horizon) in the Horizon League Championship tomorrow at 7 p.m.


Link : http://www.theguardianonline.com/sports/2016/03/08/raiders-men-defeat-oakland-for-a-trip-to-the-finals/