WRIGHT STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Date Opponent
Nov. 13 South Dakota +
Nov. 14 Cal State Northridge +
Nov. 15 at Northern Illinois +
Nov. 20 at Kentucky
Nov. 25 MOUNT ST. JOSEPH
Nov. 28 at George Mason
Dec. 1 ALBION
Dec. 4 GEORGIA STATE
Dec. 8 at Xavier
Dec. 13 at Miami
Dec. 17 CHARLESTON SOUTHERN
Dec. 20 BOWLING GREEN
Dec. 22 MURRAY STATE
+ Northern Illinois Tournament
The Wright State University men’s basketball team won’t be facing Ohio State this year, but the 2015-16 competition is no less daunting – especially for a program coming off a down season.
Wright State announced its non-conference schedule Thursday, highlighted by a Nov. 20 tilt at national runner-up Kentucky.
The Raiders also added Xavier – a Sweet 16 team last season – to the slate to renew what once was a conference rivalry. Overall, the non-conference schedule features nine teams that advanced to postseason tournaments last March.
The Horizon League slate is expected to be released soon.
Wright State is looking to bounce back a disappointing 2014-15 season plagued by injuries. The Raiders (11-20) finished last in the league standings and lost 20 games for the first time in 18 years, but return their top four scorers this season.
The 2015-16 campaign starts Nov. 13-15 at the Northern Illinois Tournament, where the Raiders will play the host school as well as Cal State Northridge and South Dakota in a round-robin event.
Wright State then heads to Lexington for its first matchup with the Wildcats since the 1998-99 season when the teams met at the Cincinnati Crown. The Raiders are 0-3 against Kentucky all-time and have twice played at Rupp Arena (1992-93 and 1996-97).
After playing three of the next four games at home, WSU will travel Dec. 8 to face Xavier, a 23-game winner last year. The Musketeers ended their 2014-15 season with a loss to Arizona in the Sweet 16, following victories over Ole Miss and Georgia State.
WSU is 2-3 all-time against Xavier with the last meeting one that long-time Raiders fans remember well. After losing twice to the Musketeers in the 1994-95 regular season, Wright State upset No. 25 Xavier 71-70, on Delme Herriman’s last-second shot, in the Midwestern Collegiate Conference Tournament quarterfinals.
The Raiders will host Georgia State on Dec. 4 before making their way to Xavier’s Cintas Center. GSU, coached by Dayton native and Miami grad Ron Hunter, went 25-10 last year and upset Baylor in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, hitting a last-second shot to seal a 57-56 win.
Traditional rival Miami remains on the schedule, set for Dec. 13 on the road. December ends with three straight postseason teams at home as Charleston Southern (19-12), Bowling Green (21-12) and Murray State (29-6) come to town before the holidays. Charleston Southern and Murray State both played in the NIT last year, while BGSU made it to the second round of the CIT.
Season tickets for the full 15-game 2015-16 season are now available starting at $99. Visit WSURaiders.com for more information.
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