Wright State would head into this weekend attempting to pick up double-digit wins for the 21st season in a row, facing IUPUI.
Pregame, the Jaguars were told that their star Marcus Burk could not start due to COVID-19 protocols. He ended up coming in after halftime, but it would be too late for the Jaguars.
As the lone Noon tip-off on Friday, the Raiders had the world’s attention. Even Barstool Sports did a stream of them watching the Raiders in their new Sportsbook in Detroit.
The “YMCA Big Man,” Loudon Love, as Big Cat from Barstool Sports called him, would get the game underway. Wright would start slow, but a 10-0 run before the under-16 media timeout would give the Raiders an early 12-6 lead.
Wright would then go on a 20-4 run after, giving the Raiders their first double digit lead of the game, owning the Jaguars down low.
The Raiders would head into the half with a 46-28 lead, outrebounding IUPUI by a score of 20-14.
Love would score 12 of his 16 in the first half, as he would be named to the Lou Henson Mid-Major Player of the Year watch list, a couple days later.
Wright State would shoot an impressive 54.3% at the break as IUPUI shot 35%.
It would be all Raiders in the second half again, as a Tanner Holden three would get the play underway, stretching Wright’s lead out to 21.
The Raiders would continue, scoring on their first four possessions of the half, stretching their lead out to as much as 25.
At the 9:11 mark, Love reeled down his sixth double-double of the season and his first of the month of January.
Wright State would ultimately win by a score of 95-65, as Grant Basile scored a career-high 24 points. Tanner Holden, Trey Calvin, and Tim Finke would all score double digits on the game as well.
The Raiders would head into Saturday with not as many lights, but as impressive of a game.
Grant Basile would start hot again, as the Raiders took their first double digit lead of the game at 8:45. Basile had a once again, impressive 20 points.
“I think the guy who is most happy (about Basile’s great play) is Loudon, because it take the pressure off of him,” said Scott Nagy, “When (Loudon) is not playing well, he gets 13 and 8. I’ll tell you, you’re a pretty good player if you’re not playing well and that’s what you’re getting.”
Love would do exactly that as Wright State would take a 41-27 lead the break. They would lead by as much as 17 in that first half.
IUPUI played much better out of the break though, cutting the Raider lead down to 10. That didn’t last too long though, as a 12-2 Raider run would extend their lead out to 20.
Love would get a dunk right before the under-4 media timeout, getting their lead out to 30, and it was all she wrote.
For the first time this season, Wright State scored 100 points. It was their first victory of the month that was not by 30+ points though. This one was by 28.
Rebounds were the difference as Wright State outrebounded the Jaguars, 40-25. Holden. Calvin, Finke, and Jaylon Hall would all score double digits. Grant Basile was later named the Horizon League Player of the Week.
