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Raiders relying on second-half free throws

WSU shooting 77 percent from the line in the second half.

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By Kyle Nagel, Staff Writer Updated 11:59 PM Saturday, January 28, 2012

FAIRBORN — Wright State basketball coach Billy Donlon quipped that he has no free-throw secrets to teach.

“Shaquille O’Neal would not have hired me,” Donlon said of the free throw-challenged former NBA center.

But minutes earlier on Friday night, Donlon watched sophomore Cole Darling and freshman Reggie Arceneaux make 5-of-6 free throws in the final 1:01 in beating Loyola, 47-41. Two days before, the Raiders made 11-of-12 from the line in the last 2:36 to hold off Illinois-Chicago 69-63.

Those were two of several key second-half free-throw performances that have helped WSU in wins.

“We’re trying to get there as much as possible,” said junior forward Armond Battle. “Then take our time and knock them in.”

The differences between halves are stark. Through the first 23 games, in compiling an 11-12 record and 6-5 mark in the Horizon League (tying them with Detroit for sixth place), the Raiders have shot 60.2 percent at the line in the first half but almost 17 percent better (77.0) in the second half. If their second-half percentage were their season percentage, they would rank in the top five nationally.

In the 11 league games, WSU ranks second in the conference in free-throw shooting at 74 percent. The week’s games included junior guard Julius Mays making 19-of-20 against UIC, breaking the WSU record for made free throws and tying the Horizon League mark. He is shooting 83.2 percent for the season, which ranks second in the league.

The performance got Mays some attention, including plenty of Twitter activity, but he said he didn’t notice it.

“Some people around here talked to me about it, a couple of my professors,” he said. “But that was about it.”

In Donlon’s six seasons at Wright State as assistant or head coach, WSU has ranked in the top 43 nationally in free-throw shooting three times, including 29th last season (74.8). He said the team’s success from the line begins in recruiting.

“I think we recruit tough-minded guys,” Donlon said, “and I think they shoot a lot of free throws.”

Twitter praise: Dave Telep, ESPN.com senior basketball recruiting analyst, tweeted last week about WSU point guard Reggie Arceneaux, a 5-foot-9 freshman who averages 8.9 points and 28.9 minutes per game, both second best on the team:

“No one wanted to take Reggie Arceneaux last year b/c of size. FR is Wright St’s No. 2 scorer and playing a ton. Good for him.”

Etc.: Battle scored 11 points on Friday, the fifth time this season he reached double figures. ... Mays continues to lead the league in scoring in conference games, at 17.5 points per game. ...

WSU free throws Wright State’s free throw shooting percentage and how the team ranked nationally the last 6 seasons: