Entering the game, Wright State had a solid 12-6 conference record as Oakland had an 11-4 conference record in Horizon League Basketball play. The Raiders’ biggest win of the season came during non-conference play when they defeated North Carolina State of the ACC on the road by a final score of 84-70 which concluded a 29-game regular-season home winning streak against non-conference opponents for the Wolf Pack. Wright State has won four of their last six games but lost their last two games prior to their game against Oakland.
The Golden Grizzlies also had their biggest win of the season in non-conference play when they defeated Oklahoma State from the Big 12 on the road. Oakland also won the Gulf Coast Showcase tournament when they defeated Delaware in the championship game. The Golden Grizzlies won their two previous games before their game against Wright State. Both teams needed this victory tonight to stay in the top three of the Horizon League standings.
Both teams played well offensively early
At the first media time out where the score was tied at 11, both teams shot 71.4 % from the field. Tanner Holden for Wright State had four early points as well as Oakland’s Jamal Cain. The Golden Grizzlies Jalen Moore though had nine points in the first six minutes of the game and played efficiently well early, especially on the offensive end.
The Raiders Grant Basile made his second three-pointer of the game with just over 11 minutes remaining in the first half to give him eight points early on in the game. Basile then made back to back to back layups to give Wright State a 25-15 lead with approximately eight minutes before halftime.
Micah Parrish made a three-pointer from the corner and then on the next offensive possession made a three from the wing to cut the Raiders lead to only three points. Moore then made a driving-off balance layup to make it a 28-24 game. The Golden Grizzlies Blake Lampman on the next offensive possession made a three-pointer and then he again made another three-pointer to tie the game at 30. Parrish made his third three-pointer of the game with just over two minutes remaining until halftime to make it a 33-30 game.
Wright State’s Basile made a layup with just under one minute remaining in the half to give the Raiders a one-point lead. However, Oakland’s Cain got an offensive rebound on the next possession and made the put-back to give the Golden Grizzlies a one-point halftime lead. Wright State shot 50% from the field in the first half and in comparison, Oakland shot 48.3%.