Senior guard Joe Thomasson and sophomore Mark Alstork both fouled out, helping Wright State send Miami to the free throw line 28 times. The RedHawks sank 23 while being whistled for 17 fouls. Wright State was 9-of-16 on free throws.
“We’ve been fouling a lot,” Raiders coach Billy Donlon said. “We played as much zone as we have all season.”
Donlon noticed a change in the call patterns after Miami coach John Cooper was whistled for a technical foul with 16:19 left in the first half.
“After the technical foul, I saw things change in the way things were being called,” Donlon said.
Cooper seemed remorseful about the call.
“I got a technical,” Cooper said. “I thought there was a foul early in the game that wasn’t called. We were getting chucked on drives and it wasn’t being called, and we were being called for chucking their drivers.
“Look, I know officiating is a difficult job. I got a technical and I told the kids I wouldn’t get another. I remember when I first started coaching, I thought I’d never get a technical. Hopefully, it woke us up a little bit.”
Further review: Wright State's J.T. Yoho originally was a credited with two points on a long jump shot from the right wing with 10:12 left in the first half, but a review by officials during a subsequent timeout prompted them to award the senior forward with a 3-pointer on the play, which gave the Raiders an 18-12 lead.
Hall of Fame: Miami honored at halftime the seven newest members of its Athletic Hall of Fame: Colleen Day (Class of 2004, women's basketball), Damon Frierson (1999, men's basketball), Bob Gardner (1978, men's tennis), Jill Kohrs (1984, volleyball), Doug Krause (1972, football), Kirk Springs (1982, football) and Tim Winans (1985, men's swimming).
Bench strength: Wright State enjoyed a 9-0 advantage in fast break points, but that was more than offset by Miami's whopping 39-22 margin in bench scoring, led by senior guard Willie Moore's 13 points and sophomore forward Logan McLane's 11.
Moore, a Cincinnati native who transferred to Miami from Oregon, has learned to make the best of coming off the bench.
“I’ve kind of been doing this since I got here,” said the 6-foot-3 Moore, who’s started 15 of 63 games since becoming eligible. “At times, I let it affect m, but at the end of the day, it’s a sacrifice you’ve got to make.”
Moore was the player Cooper turned to when senior guard Geovonie McKnight picked up his second foul fewer than four minutes into Sunday’s game, but Moore smiled when it was jokingly suggested that he was on the bench praying silently for that second foul.
“No, I’d rather be on the court with (McKnight),” he said.
Yoho injured: Yoho limped off the floor with an apparent injury with 16 seconds left in the game. Donlon had no information on the injury immediately after the game.
Next up: The RedHawks play the second in a stretch of four games in 10 days when they welcome Jackson State on Tuesday at Millett Hall. The Raiders open a three-game homestand with a game against Charleston Southern on Thursday night.
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