The Wright State men’s basketball team (6-5, 1-1 Horizon) kicked off Horizon League play with both a loss and a win, but they will take a break from conference action and square off against the Marshall Thundering Herd on Wednesday, December 11 at 7:00PM ET at the Nutter Center.
Last time out: The Raiders bounced back nicely from Thursday’s tough loss at Oakland by earning an 80-72 win over Detroit Mercy inside of Calihan Hall this past Saturday afternoon. They shot 57.1 percent from the field (28-of-49) and outrebounded Detroit Mercy 34-32, Jack Doumbia played the best game of his NCAA career: with 21 points and 13 rebounds, and three blocks. Brandon Noel scored 26 points on 11-of-13 shooting along with seven rebounds; Alex Huibregtse scored 17 points with six assists and two steals; and Logan Woods scored all nine of points in the first half and shot perfect 3-for-3 from downtown.
About Marshall: The Thundering Herd were predicted to pick 8th in the Sun Belt Conference. Last season, they went 13-20 overall and 7-11 in conference play, settling for a 10th place finish in the Sun Belt Conference standings. That proved to be the final season for head coach Dan D’Antoni, whom the school parted ways with after ten seasons. With a new head coach and a completely different looking team, they return two starters in the frontcourt in Nate Martin and Obinna Anochili-Killen, as well as key subs Wyatt Fricks and Ryan Nutter. Last season, Martin led the Sun Belt Conference with 334 total rebounds.
Marshall head coach profile: Cornelius Jackson is in his very first season as a head coach on any collegiate level, replacing Dan D’Antoni. He spent six seasons (2017-23) as one of Marshall’s assistant coaches before being promoted to Associate Head Coach prior to last season. He has coaching experience in the Horizon League as an assistant coach at Cleveland State from 2013 through 2017 under Gary Waters. Jackson begun his coaching career as an assistant at both Division II West Virginia State University (2003-09) well as Tennessee-Martin (2009-13). In his playing career, Jackson played his freshman year at Tennessee before transferring to Marshall and finished 4th all-time in Thundering Herd history in career assists with 518.
Wright State starting lineup
• Brandon Noel, F (6-8/240, R-Jr.) – 20.1 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.4 bpg, 1.4 spg, 80.8% FT; Horizon League leader in field goals made (83)
• Jack Doumbia, F (6-6/210, R-Sr., Norfolk State transfer) – 9.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 0.6 bpg, 1.2 spg; started three times
• Alex Huibregtse, G (6-3/205, R-Sr.) — 16.2 points, 3.8 reb, 3.3 apg, 45.1% 3-PT FG, 80% FT; Horizon League leader in total minutes played (374)
• Logan Woods, G (6-5/185, R-Soph.) – 8.3 points, 48.6% 3-PT
• Keaton Norris, G (6-0/175, R-Jr.) – 5.3 ppg, 4.7 apg, 1.5 spg; Horizon League leader in total assists (52) and has the 16th-best assist-to-turnover ratio in the country (4.00)
Wright State rotation players
• Michael Imariagbe, F (6-7/220, Sr., Houston Christian transfer) – 5.5 points, 3.5 rebounds; has started seven of 11 games
• Solomon Callaghan, G (6-2/195, R-Fr.) – 5.3 ppg, 40.9% 3-PT in 10 games
• Andrew Welage, G (6-6/205, Gr.) – 3.5 ppg
• Drey Carter, F (6-8/210, R-Soph.) – 2.4 ppg, 1.4 rpg; started one game
Rest of the Wright State roster:
https://wsuraiders.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster
Marshall starting lineup
• Nate Martin, F (6-8/235, Sr.) – 12.9 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 66.2% FG (leads the Sun Belt Conference); started his career at fellow Sun Belt school Texas State
• Obinna Anochili-Killen 🇳🇬, F (6-8/220, Gr.) – 11.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.4 bpg
• Mikal Dawson, G (6-5/222, Gr., Akron transfer) – 9.9 ppg, 1.6 spg, 78.6% FT (11/14)
• Ryan Nutter, G (6-4/189, Soph.) – 5.8 ppg, 2.1 apg, 78.3% FT (18/23)
• Dezayne Mingo 🇨🇦, G (6-4/185, Jr.) – 10.1 ppg, 4.9 apg, 1.3 spg in eight games (seven starts)
Marshall rotation players
• Wyatt Fricks, F (6-10/205, R-Jr.) – 7.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 83.3% FT
• Jalen Speer, G (6-1/182, Gr., Florida A&M transfer) – 5.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg in seven games
• Will Moore, G (6-7/188, Fr.) – 4.4 ppg in 9.8 mpg; has scored in double-figures twice
• Cade Gibbs, F (6-6/222, Sr., NAIA Grace College transfer) – 3.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.2 spg
• Jakob Gibbs, F (6-5/208, Sr., NAIA Grace College transfer) – 3.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg; missed one game
Rest of the Marshall roster: https://herdzone.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster
