There was a confidence about Joe Thomasson at the Nutter Center tonight. The best word to describe Thomasson’s demeanor on the court was “gamer.” He just looked the part of a Division I basketball player.
Returning to his hometown, Thomasson impressed in the Raiders’ 68-59 win over Division II Findlay in the Raiders’ only public exhibition of the preseason.
My colleague Greg Felder (who I am sad to say will be departing our staff next week) played against Thomasson in high school. As Felder and I watched Thomasson play during tonight’s second half, we both marveled at the confidence he carried on the court. My colleague, reflecting back on his high school days, said, “He never lacked confidence.”
“I came into this game confident,” Thomasson said. “I told Reggie (Arceneaux), I am with you, I am with you.”
“This is my guy here,” Arceneaux said in response.
Thomasson is a Thurgood Marshall product and he said at the postgame press conference his family was there to see him. The nerves nearly got the best of Thomasson as he wanted to launch a few dunks in the first half, but his confidence and chemistry built during Wednesday’s contest against Findlay.
“This year, we’re a young team but we have some things up our sleeves,” Thomasson said. “Our chemistry is definitely getting there.”
Thomasson finished the game with 11 points with four assists.
Steven Davis extends the defense
I was very impressed by the kind of game Steven Davis had tonight. He hit a couple of 3s early in the game that caused Findlay’s defense to respect him from the outside.
Inside, he took some bumps and bruises. A lot more is going to be asked of him this year. He stood tall for a few charging calls. I am not sure if he is a game-changer yet, but he definitely looks stronger than he did eight months ago.
Yoho's debut to wait
WSU head coach Billy Donlon has said that no one has had a better offseason on the court than JT Yoho. The 6-foot-6 forward is said to be much stronger and better with the basketball. But his debut will have to wait. Donlon suspended Yoho along with teammate Mark Howell for a violation of team rules.
Both Yoho and Howell had offseason run ins with the law.
First half:
Wright State trailed 40-32 after committing 13 turnovers. Davis led the way with 10 points. The Raiders struggled in the man-to-man defense. Findlay shot 59 percent from the field in the first half including five 3s.
WSU got off to an ugly start as the Oilers were off to a 6-0 start thanks to Wright State ending its first three possessions with turnovers. Arceneaux hit a 3 to give WSU its first field goal and to cut Findlay’s lead to 8-5.
WSU tied the game at eight going into the under 16 timeout. Donlon came out of the under-16 timeout with five newcomers; three freshmen and two junior college transfers. Grant Benzinger was the first of the Raiders to hit a shot, a 3-pointer from the right wing.
Wright State started integrating newcomers and returners. Findlay stayed right with Wright State as the Raiders only led by one at the television timeout with 10:20 left in the first half. Findlay started the game 11-of-17 from the field.
Wright State had nine turnovers and just five assists in the first 12 minutes of the game that allowed Findlay to build a lead. Findlay hit a pair of 3s to extend its lead to 10 at 32-22 as the Raiders defense was allowing open shot after open shot.
The Raiders narrowed the gap some after trailing at one point by 14. Clearly, the first half was not the half WSU had hoped for.
Halftime:
With WSU down eight, Donlon opted not for the impassioned halftime speech unlike last year when the Raiders lost to the Oilers in the exhibition game. Instead, he talked basketball.
“Last year, I went in there and yelled at that team,” Donlon said. “I was concerned both years but more concerned last year… When you are down at half and the other team has the best player on the floor. (Tonight), we had the best three or four players on the floor. Chrishawn Hopkins was miserable the first three instances was in the game. But with 13 minutes left in the game, he was the best player on the court.”
Second half:
Wright State found its identity in the second half through strong defending and moving the basketball. It became clear that WSU’s best way to move the basketball was through Chrishawn Hopkins who struggled early.
The Raiders slowly started to chip away at Findlay’ lead. An Arceneaux 3 followed by a defensive turnover and a Kendall Griffin layup cut the Oilers’ lead to 48-42. Karena extended the run to 9-0 as he was found wide open in the lane.
Then Hopkins went to work. He used his speed to drive the lane, draw fouls, and create offense. He extended the run to 15-0 to give WSU a 52-48 lead.
The Raiders continued expanding the lead until Ricardo Smith broke a 20-0 run to cut WSU’s lead to 57-50. During the WSU run, Findlay committed six turnovers and missed six baskets.
This is what allowed WSU to put the game away as the starters came off the court and the youngsters finished up.
They said it:
Coach Billy Donlon:
One of the things you can’t do is when you are not guarding well, you can’t take bad shots on the other end or make turnovers. We had 13 turnovers in the first half. But when you hold them to 12 points with two minutes to go in the second half, you have done something.
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One thing I have talked about is completive toughness and competitive spirit and boy they had it tonight.
Reggie Arceneaux:
We want to win every game. These guys (Findlay) were going to come out strong again. They beat us last year when we had more guys and a more veteran team. I am proud of these guys the way they come out in the second half and responded.
Next up:
Here comes Belmont; mid-major juggernaut. You know it is a big game when free t-shirts will be given to the crowd. If the Raiders play Belmont the way they did in the first half tonight, it will be a bloodbath. If WSU plays like it did in the second half, fans at the Nutter Center will be in for a treat on Nov. 14.
