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By Marc Katz, Staff Writer 12:06 AM Wednesday, December 23, 2009

FAIRBORN — Wright State coach Brad Brownell made all the excuses for Arkansas-Little Rock, and had to make none for his team Tuesday, Dec. 22.

The Raiders rushed off to a 17-0 lead and never led by fewer than 14 points the rest of the way as they won their second straight game leading into a nearly three-day break.

The players are due back on campus for a meeting and a Christmas Day meal at 6 p.m.

“You never know how things are going to go,” Brownell said. “Little Rock just lost a tough rivalry (Sun Belt) conference game (69-61, Sunday to Arkansas State) and this is a tough trip for them just before Christmas.”

Little Rock was also playing without senior Mike Smith, who started his team’s first 11 games, but tore up his left knee and will be lost for the rest of the season.

Smith was averaging 7.8 points and a team-leading 5.9 rebounds.

Gardner ready

It appears John David Gardner is ready to play. The only question is, how much.

Gardner, the bad-luck senior guard who has had foot and hip injuries throughout his career, is coming back from hip surgery and is expected to suit up for Monday’s game against Sam Houston State.

Holiday break

Where will the players be heading? After Tuesday’s game, they scattered. Long-distance travelers included Cooper Land (Texas), Gardner (Alabama) and Cory Cooperwood (Arkansas).

Paul Darkwa, who grew up in New Jersey and California, is staying behind, but so is assistant coach Victor Ebong, who invited Darkwa over with his visiting family.

The rest of the players are all from either Ohio or Indiana, and all are due back Christmas night.

That gives the players some cushion in case of travel problems.

Ross makes visit

There were plenty of former Raiders in the stands, led by John Ross, who was WSU’s first coach after leading Belmont to the big school state tournament championship in 1964.

Ross now lives in Florida, but usually visits family and friends at this time of the year.

Also in the crowd was former point guard Joe Bills, who lives, teaches and coaches in South Carolina, near Hilton Head.

Nice shot

Mark Schlemmer of WONE broadcasts his talk show from the Nutter Center before games. During a commercial, the took a ball and hooked it in from behind the team bench.

Just once, though. He tried it a second time and couldn’t touch iron.

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

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