Wright State men’s basketball team concluded their non-conference schedule with their third straight win in a 65-49 victory over Murray State at the Nutter Center on Tuesday, Dec. 22.
A group of seniors led the Raiders with guard JT Yoho scoring a game-high 19 points off of the bench while center Michael Karena collected 18 and guard Biggie Minnis with 10 points and seven assists. Sophomore guard Mark Alstork also finished with 10 points.
“I can’t explain to you how selfless it is that JT Yoho has bought into not starting,” head coach Billy Donlon said. “He’s the best player on our team and he has bought into it 100 percent. That’s a big time help for us.’
Senior forward Wayne Langston averaged 14.5 points per game headed into the game for Murray State but was held to just six points after getting into foul trouble.
“It’s hard on the other team because he (Karena) is bigger than most guys he’s going to play against,” Donlon said. “I’m proud of how he did against Langston.’
Karena got the Raiders on the board within the first 13 seconds of the game with a hook shot but the team went cold for the next 5:05 missing six straight shots.
The score was tied at 11 with 11:21 remaining in the half until Alstork and Minnis sank back-to-back 3 pointers to give the Raiders a six point advantage.
The teams traded baskets for the next eight minutes but a 3 pointer by Yoho and lay-up by Alstork put the Raiders up 36-23 at the half.
The Racers got straight to work in the second half by making their first 5 field goal attempts and cutting their deficit to one point with 14:43 remaining. Senior forward Jeffery Moss had eight points on the run.
Yoho retaliated for the Raiders with eight points in 1:50 leading a 15-3 run to regain their 13 point advantage.
The Racers were held scoreless for 3:50 but a jump shot by Moss with 8:42 remaining ended their scoring drought.
Over the next 6:50 the Raiders went on a 10-1 run to gain their largest lead of the night at 65-45. Wright State held the Racers to just seven points in the final 12:31.
Wright State (6-7) will be back in action at Milwaukee (8-4) on Sunday, Jan. 2 for their first Horizon League Matchup of the season. Tip-off will be at 4 p.m.
