Where: UIC Pavilion
TV: ESPN3
Radio: 106.5-FM
Probable Wright State starters
Name;Ht.;Yr.;Pos.;PPG
Grant Benzinger;6-3;So.;G;8.6
Mark Alstork;6-4;So.;G; 12.5
Joe Thomasson;6-4;Sr.;G;10.0
JT Yoho;6-6;Sr.;F;13.4
Michael Karena;6-10;Sr.;C;8.6
Probable Illinois-Chicago starters
Lance Whitaker;6-4;So.;G;5.1
Michael Kolawole;6-5;Fr.;G;5.5
Dikembe Dixson;6-7;Fr.;F;17.6
Tai Odiase;6-9;So.;F;8.9
Najeal Young;6-6;Jr;6.4
Series history: Tied 26-26, although UIC has won three of four and five of the eight.
Coaches: Billy Donlon is 102-91 in his sixth season with the Rai ders. … Steve McClain is 3-19 in his first season with UIC and 160-134 in 10 seasons overall. He previously coached at Wyoming.
About Wright State: KenPom.com gives the Raiders an 86 percent chance of winning with a predicted final score of 70-60. Wright State is No. 141 in the Pomeroy Rankings. … The Raiders have won two in a row and eight of 10 following Saturday's 79-60 home win against Green Bay. … A victory tonight will give WSU its 10th league win, which would equal the most the team has had in Donlon's six season. … Despite a recent offensive surge that has seen them score at least 79 points in four of their last eight games, the Raiders rank eighth in the HL in scoring offense (68.5). They are second in scoring defense (65.9). … WSU is 2-8 in road games.
About UIC: The Flames are No. 343 out of 351 teams in the Pomeroy Rankings. … UIC has dropped 11 of 12, including a 73-55 setback in its most recent outing Saturday against visiting Valparaiso. … The Flames rank ninth in the league in scoring offense (66.0) and sixth in scoring defense (77.5). … Freshman forward Dikembe Dixson, who had 29 points in the first meeting against WSU, ranks fourth in the league in scoring (17.6). … UIC leads the league in blocked shots (4.6) but ranks last or next to last in six other defensive categories. … All three Flames wins this season have come at home, where they are 3-8.
Coming up: The Raiders will hit play at league-leading Valparaiso on Saturday. The Crusaders (20-4, 10-1) will be out to avenge their only HL loss, a 73-62 setback at the Nutter Center on Jan. 22.
About the Author