DaytonDailyNews.com

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — While the difference between the big schools and the little schools was clear, Wright State should have walked out of Joel Coliseum Sunday night, Dec. 14, with at least a little bit of satisfaction.

After all, the Raiders were playing the 11th-ranked team in the nation, a team averaging more than 85 points a game, a team that had scored 80 or more points in four consecutive games, including against Indiana.

Wake Forest won, 66-53, a decisive victory, if not overwhelming.

For the WSU players, that wasn't much of a consolation.

"No, we didn't play well," said junior forward Cory Cooperwood, who scored 13 points for the Raiders, trying to win their third straight. "We didn't play to our potential. None of us, regardless of what they (the Demon Deacons) were ranked in the country. We didn't play to our potential or capabilities, myself and everybody else. And I'm disappointed."

Junior guard John David Gardner, quickly picking up the scoring slack left by the injury to Vaughn Duggins — who will miss the rest of the month with a broken finger — scored 14 and provided six assists while not turning the ball over once.

"I get no satisfaction," Gardner said. "You can't when you get beat."

Turning points

N'Gai Evans' 3-point basket with 15:51 to play in the first half gave the Raiders a 3-2 lead at a time both teams were fumbling away the ball. Eventually Wake Forest surged ahead 21-9 and led 35-25 at the half.

A 15-4 Deacons run at the start of the second half doomed any chance of an upset.

Wake made up for Jeff Teague being held to 10, about half his usual average, with Harvey Hale's 17 off the bench, about 10 above his average.

Quote

"Wake played well and then took their foot off the accelerator a couple of times during the game," WSU coach Brad Brownell said. "It took a little while to get our legs under us and really feel like we belonged in the game."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2157

or mkatz@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Next game

Who: Norfolk State (1-5) at Wright State (2-7)

When: 7 p.m., Wednesday

Radio: WONE-AM (980), WIZE-AM (1340)