Wright State men’s basketball team improved their winning streak to four games after defeating the UIC Flames 74-43 in the first round of the Horizon League Tournament.
Senior forward JT Yoho led the Raiders with 15 points while freshman forward Dikembe Dixson recorded a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds for UIC.
Freshman forward Daniel Mortensen recorded a career-high of 14 points for Wright State after beginning the game with 29 total points on the season.
Wright State (20-12; 14-5 Horizon) made 14 of 18 three-point attempts while holding the Flames to 23 percent overall for the game.
After falling behind 4-0, Yoho sparked the Raiders with four points during an 8-0 run and led 8-4 with 15:31 remaining in the half.
Dixson made a jump-shot to end the scoring drought for the Flames, but a three-pointer by Mortensen sparked a 7-0 run over the next 3:15 to complete a 15-2 run.
Back-to back threes by sophomore guard Mark Alstork and Mortensen gave the Raiders a 13-point advantage as they led 21-8 with 10:30 remaining. After a jumper by sophomore center Tai Odiase, both teams struggled with a scoring drought over the next 3:25.
The Flames held WSU scoreless for a total of 5:20, while cutting their deficit to six points, before an 11-0 run by the Raiders gave them a 34-17 lead at halftime.
UIC struggled to find the bottom of the net in the second half as they went without a field goal for 4:58 until Dixson sank a jumper to cut their 26-point deficit to 24.
The Raiders never let up as they cruised to victory while obtaining a 34-point advantage with 3:02 remaining after back-to-back three-pointers by senior guard Daniel Collie.
Wright State will play the winner of Detroit (15-4; Horizon 9-9) vs. Youngstown State (11-20; 6-12 Horizon) on Sunday, Mar. 6 at 3:30 p.m.
