Bad luck, poor rebounding cost Raiders

Horizon League contest next for Wright State after loss to Northeastern.

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By Marc Katz, Staff Writer 8:23 PM Sunday, November 29, 2009

FAIRBORN — Just before he led his team into a late Sunday afternoon, Nov. 29, film session, Wright State basketball coach Brad Brownell put the final stamp on Saturday’s 70-67 loss at Northeastern, achieved on a nearly half-court heave that stripped the net at the buzzer.

“At some point,” Brownell said, “you’re thinking the basketball gods didn’t feel like this was supposed to be ours.”

Not only did Chaisson Allen’s improbable shot beat the Raiders, just two Northeastern baskets before, the Huskies may have received another gift.

On a play that appeared to end in a Northeastern turnover, the Huskies were given an extra second on an in-bound play. Matt Janning not only caught the ball, he fired it in from the left corner for a 3-point basket that gave the Huskies a 64-57 lead.

Brownell wasn’t sure Janning had the time to get the shot off, and after he saw the film, realized it should have been a two-point basket, which would have changed the game-ending situation. Instead of the game being tied and WSU looking for a winning basket (which missed), the Raiders might have run out the clock or been fouled.

Instead, Vaughn Duggins’ shot was off the mark, the rebound went to Allen, and he made the improbable winner.

Aside from that, Brownell pointed out the Raiders have to rebound better (Northeastern trounced them, 32-23), because, “rebounding is a big thing for us. We have to get better rebounding from all five positions. The guards have to get rebounds. Todd (Brown) and Vaughn have to rebound better, even though they get a few. As many minutes as they’re playing, they’ve got to get a lot.”

Thursday is WSU’s next chance, and it will be an even more important game than the one at Northeastern as the Horizon League begins with defending league-tournament champion Cleveland State visiting for an ESPNU game.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2157 or mkatz@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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