The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

WSU's Mays back on track in win over YSU

Photos: WSU vs. YSU
Get WSU schedule, roster, and more At daytondailynews.stats.com
More Raiders
WSU's Battle helps team earn comeback victory

High school sports results for May 26
5/26/12
Reds' six-game winning streak broken
5/26/12
Annual Warrior Soccer Classic kicks off today
5/26/12
Dragons' rally falls short against Lansing
5/26/12
WSU baseball ousted from tournament
5/26/12
> More sports headlines

By Kyle Nagel, Staff Writer Updated 10:19 PM Saturday, December 3, 2011

FAIRBORN — Against Cleveland State on Thursday night, Wright State’s leading scorer, Julius Mays, went scoreless on 0-for-2 shooting in 35 minutes. With CSU defenders focusing on the transfer from North Carolina State, Mays couldn’t get many looks.

He wanted to do more.

“I feel like me taking two attempts isn’t doing my team any justice,” Mays said.

The 6-foot-2 guard responded with a game-high 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting, many of them resulting from cuts to the basket, in the Raiders’ 63-62 victory against Youngstown State on Saturday. Mays has averaged 16 points in the past five games with the scoreless blip.

He finished with seven points in the first half and, in one stretch, scored eight straight WSU points to give the Raiders a 42-41 lead with 14:24 left in the game.

It was their first lead since 7-6 after trailing by as many as 17 points, and the burst helped the Raiders push ahead to their first Horizon League win.

Also the team’s leader in assists (25) and steals (12) this season, Mays showed touch around the basket that made him a desired recruit out of Marion High School in Marion, Ind.

He started slowly with eight points in his first three WSU games, but he has rebounded.

“Once I go,” Mays said, “I can get everyone else involved.”

WSU coach Billy Donlon agreed.

“I think he played like an all-conference guard,” Donlon said

Coming on strong: Youngstown State senior forward DuShawn Brooks, who plays more like a guard at times at 6-6 and 215 pounds, scored 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting, including 3-of-5 three-pointers. He averaged 6.0 points per game in 30 games last season and has scored 24 and 17 points in the Penguins’ two league games.

Going inside: After averaging 20.2 three-point attempts per game in their first six games, the Raiders have slowed their outside shooting.

In the week’s Horizon League games against Cleveland State and Youngstown State, WSU averaged 10 long-range attempts, making 7-of-20.

Around the league: Two of five Horizon League games went into overtime on Saturday, as Valparaiso beat Butler 77-71 on the road and Milwaukee outlasted UIC 73-71 at home. Cleveland State started 2-0 in the league with a 66-61 road defeat of Detroit.

Stats: WSU outrebounded a D-I opponent for the first time this season, 32-26. ... The Raiders shot 52.2 percent in the second half. ... WSU forced an average of 17 turnovers a game entering Saturday, and YSU had seven.

Etc.: Wright State was called for its first foul with 4:05 left in the first half, and the Raiders were called for 11 in the second half. ... WSU has played five of its first seven games at home with an average Nutter Center attendance of 2,993.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389 or knagel@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Share this article