After suffering back-to-back losses, the Wright State Raiders men’s basketball team (7-7, 1-2 Horizon) will look to go into 2025 on the positive side of things as they visit the Cleveland State Vikings (8-6, 2-1 Horizon) on Sunday, December 29 at 3pm ET at the Henry J. Goodman Arena.
Last time out: Before the Christmas holiday, Clint Sargent’s crew took a trip up north to Ypsilanti, MI and – for the second straight time – lost a game after blowing a double-digit lead in their 86-82 defeat against the Eastern Michigan Eagles. Redshirt freshman Solomon Callaghan recorded 7 points and 3 steals and started the game in place of Keaton Norris, who sat out with a thigh bruise. 21 points and 4 steals for Jack Doumbia; 17 points and 8 rebounds for Brandon Noel; 14 points (4-of-9 3-PT), 6 assists, and 3 steals for Alex Huibregtse; 10 points for Logan Woods, and 8 points off the bench. The Raiders were solid shooting the ball overall: 81.3 percent on free throws (13-of-16), 51.7 percent overall from the field (31-of-60), and 41.2 percent from 3-land (7-of-17).
Eastern Michigan was led by Da’Sean Nelson with 27 points and 13 rebounds. Jalen Terry finished with 21 points on 6-of-10 shots from beyond the arc, while Christian Henry and Yusuf Jihad had 11 points each.
About the opponent: Cleveland State finished 7th in the Horizon League last season and was picked to finish 7th again in the preseason polls. So far, the Vikings are 8-6 and tied for 4th with Purdue-Fort Wayne in the Horizon League standings. The team only has two players averaging double-figure scoring in Tevin Smith (14.3 ppg, 1.4 spg, 82.1% FT) and Tahj Staveskie (10.4 ppg). Other key players include Dylan Arnett (9.8 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 1.1 bpg), Chase Robinson (7.3 ppg, 1.7 spg, 85.2% FT), and freshman 6th man Je’Shawn Stevenson (9.9 ppg, 1.4 spg).
Cleveland State head coach profile: Daniyal Robinson is in his 3rd season as the man in charge of the Vikings program and has led the squad to back-to-back 21-win seasons. He played two seasons at Arkansas-Little Rock and started his coaching career over there as an administrative assistant. Robinson was also an assistant at Illinois State (2003-07), Iowa State (2008-10 and 2015-22), Houston (2010-13) and Loyola-Chicago (2013-14) – where he later became the team’s associate head coach for 2014-15.
Wright State starting lineup
• Brandon Noel, F (6-8/240, 5th-year R-Jr.) – 19.2 ppg, 8 rpg, 1.2 spg, 1.2 bpg; leads the Horizon League in total field goals made (95)
• Jack Doumbia, F (6-6/195, R-Sr., Norfolk State transfer) – 11.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.2 spg, bpg; started 5 games
• Alex Huibregtse, G (6-3/205, R-Sr.) – 15.6 ppg, 45.2% 3-PT FG; leads the Horizon League in minutes per game (34.4), 3-point percentage (45.2%) and effective field goal percentage (65%)
• Logan Woods (6-5/185, R-Soph.) – 8.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 1.6 apg
• Keaton Norris, G (6-0/175, R-Jr.) – 5.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 4.7 apg, 1.5 spg; 29th in the NCAA in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.21)
Wright State rotation players
• Solomon Callaghan, G (6-2/195, R-Fr.) – 6 ppg, 44.4% 3-PT in 12 games
• Andrew Welage, G (6-6/205, Gr.) – 2.8 ppg, 11 mpg
• Drey Carter, F (6-8/210, R-Soph.) – 3.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 10.5 mpg; started one game
• Michael Imariagbe (eh-mar-ee-bay), F (6-7/220, Sr., Houston Christian transfer) – 4.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg; started 7 games
Rest of Wright State’s roster: https://wsuraiders.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster
Cleveland State starting lineup
• Dylan Arnett, F (6-9/230, Jr.) – 9.8 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 1.1 bpg
• Isaac Abidde, F (6-9/195, Jr., Wichita State transfer) – 3.9 ppg, 1.8 rpg; started 8 of 13 games played
• Ebrima Dibba, G (6-6/214, Gr., South Carolina transfer) – 3.8 ppg, 3.8 apg, 1.3 spg; started 10 of 13 games played; played 4 years at Coastal Carolina
• Tevin Smith, G (6-3/195, Jr.) – 14.3 ppg, 1.4 spg, 82.1% FT; started 13 of 14 games; begun his NCAA career at Denver
• Tahj Staveskie, G (6-0/155, Jr., Canisius transfer) – 10.4 ppg
Cleveland State rotation players
• Je’Shawn Stevenson, F (6-2/200, Fr.) – 9.9 ppg
• Chase Robinson, G (6-1/206, Gr.) – 7.3 ppg, 1.7 spg, 85.2% FT; started 5 games
• Reece Robinson, F (6-8/223, Fr.) – 4.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg; played in 10 games
Rest of Cleveland State’s roster: https://csuvikings.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster
