Raiders fare well against top-ranked early season opponents

Wright State has played the country’s 121st most difficult schedule to date, and the Raiders hope it has prepared them well for Horizon League play that continues Thursday against Milwaukee. Here’s a look at the Raiders’ early-season opponents:

Indiana

Result:

Loss, 67-44 on Nov. 14

Record: 9-4

RPI: 167

Etc: Hoosiers pulled away from WSU late as part of their best start under third-coach Tom Crean to 6-0 but have lost two straight to Northern Iowa and Colorado.

Northwood

Result:

Win, 75-55 on Nov. 17

Record: 4-8

RPI: N/A

Etc: D-II Timberwolves started 1-6, including 78-56 loss to New Mexico, but have steadied with 3-3 showing in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Southern

Result:

Win, 66-43 on Nov. 21

Record: 1-10

RPI: 333

Etc: The Jaguars, who allowed Matt Vest a season-high 18 points, beat only Auburn-Montgomery in overtime and have lost by an average of 24.6 points per game.

Oakland

Result:

Win, 82-79

Record: 7-8

RPI: 73

Etc: WSU's most significant win came after the Raiders made 21-of-21 free throws, and the Grizzlies have since beaten Tennessee and played Purdue, Illinois, Michigan State, Michigan and Ohio State.

Richmond

Result:

Loss, 71-61 on Nov. 26

Record: 10-3

RPI: 66

Etc: WSU led for most of the second half and 56-54 with 5:31 left in Chicago Invitational Challenge; Spiders beat Purdue the next night and have also beaten Arizona State and Seton Hall.

Southern Illinois

Result:

Loss, 56-50 on Nov. 27

Record: 6-5

RPI: 199

Etc: WSU shot a season-worst 21.6 percent in poor offensive game for both teams in second CIC game in Hoffman Estates, Ill.; Salukis' best win is against Austin Peay (No. 134 RPI).

Cincinnati

Result:

Loss, 77-69 on Dec. 1

Record: 12-0

RPI: 95

Etc: Raiders rallied from 20-point deficit with 8:34 left but couldn't finish; Bearcats are undefeated with country's second worst schedule thus far, according to Sagarin ratings.

Detroit

Result:

Loss, 78-69 on Dec. 4

Record: 7-6

RPI: 196

Etc: Titans jumped to early lead in conference opener and held on with 17 points and 12 rebounds from Eli Holman, also pounded Central Michigan 75-49 (WSU defeated CMU 53-49).

Air Force

Result:

Win, 76-61 on Dec. 8

Record: 7-3

RPI: 160

Etc: Falcons have also played poor schedule but entered Nutter Center 5-1 before convincing WSU win, as the Raiders led by 12 at halftime and shot 48 percent from the field.

Tusculum

Result:

Win, 60-47 on Dec. 11

Record: 4-7

RPI: N/A

Etc: D-II Pioneers worried some in the Nutter Center by leading 25-22 at halftime, but WSU's Matt Vest won battle with brother Kevin, a Tusculum junior.

Central Michigan

Result:

Win, 53-49 on Dec. 14

Record: 3-9

RPI: 296

Etc: WSU counted this as significant win by holding onto slim lead late and after losing in same arena two years ago; Chippewas have beaten UIC, a Horizon League member that later defeated Illinois.

Miami

Result:

Win, 66-51 on Dec. 18

Record: 5-7

RPI: 147

Etc: RedHawks' record is deceiving with losses against Duke, Ohio State and others as part of country's 37th-best schedule; WSU won convincingly to stay perfect at home.

Charlotte

Result:

Loss, 57-53 on Dec. 22

Record: 6-6

RPI: 242

Etc: The 49ers beat Tennessee before facing WSU and erased a 14-point deficit with 12:35 left as Raiders went cold, and the Raiders won't see much size like theirs moving forward.

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