VALPARAISO | A lengthy scoring drought in the final minutes cost Valparaiso in a two-point loss at Wright State last month. Round two Thursday at the Athletics-Recreation Center was the same story with a twist.
This time the Crusaders missed 10 consecutive field-goal attempts over an 8 1/2-minute span at the end of the first half, made a big comeback after the break but fell apart down the stretch in a 75-71 loss.
"We struggled scoring," Valpo coach Homer Drew said. "I was pleased with the effort of the team, except the first half we have to play better."
The Crusaders (11-13, 6-6 Horizon League) went 0-for-9 from 3-point range in the first half, while the Raiders (15-8, 8-4) made 7-of-11 on their way to a 31-21 halftime advantage. A 15-0 Wright State run was the difference during the drought.
Valpo got it within 10 after Brandon Wood scored on a putback with 32 seconds remaining, and Cameron Witt scored at the buzzer off an assist from Matt Kenney following a Tommy Kurth steal.
That gave the Crusaders some momentum, and they carried it over to the second half. Valpo put together a solid 19-8 run to start the half, finally taking a lead at 40-39 on a Brandon McPherson 3-pointer.
But the Raiders controlled the last five minutes, starting with a four-point play by Vaughn Duggins with 5:18 remaining for a 59-51 lead.
"We knew the second half would be much more difficult and we would have to figure out ways to score," Wright coach Brad Brownell said. "It got back more to their style of game, but our guys responded and I'm proud of them. We found a way to fight back and grind out a tough win against a team that's playing really well."
Wood led three Crusaders in double figures with 18 points and nine rebounds.
McPherson finished with 17, all in the second half, and Cory Johnson finished with 16 points after scoring the first 10 points of the game. Freshman Ryan Broekhoff added seven points and a career-high 13 rebounds.
For Wright State, N'Gai Evans scored 18 while Duggins added 17 and Todd Brown 12. The Raiders finished 10-of-20 from 3-point range.
Valpo rallied within three points in the final seconds, but Broekhoff was called for a holding foul while chasing a loose ball with seven seconds remaining. The Crusaders were down three at the time, and Brown made the second of two free throws for the final margin.
"It would have been wonderful if we had gotten a no call," Drew said. "That was huge if we would have gotten that and made a 3."
Drew said Johnson (back), McPherson (ankle) and others were in the training room after the game, trying to recover in time for Saturday's 1 p.m. home game against Detroit.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Wright State 75, Valparaiso 71
Brandon Wood had 18 points and nine rebounds for the Crusaders.
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