“I just hate it that we don’t feel better about leaving this place,” the second-year Wright State coach said by phone from White Sulpher Springs, W.Va. “But I’m very encouraged by a lot of what we’re doing — the hearts of our players and our staff. We’ve just got to keep growing and stay the course.”
While they’ve won a handful of in-season tourneys at the Nutter Center over the years, the Raiders were looking for just their second title away from home in their Division-I history (since 1987). Their lone crown came in the 2008-09 San Juan Shootout.
They built a 55-45 lead after a Michael Cooper jumper with 8:37 to go.
The freshman point guard made a pair of free throws at 2:34 for a five-point bulge.
But the Golden Flashes, who went 24-12 last season and were picked third in the MAC preseason poll, went on a 5-0 run in the final 2:19 of regulation. And after falling behind by three in OT, they ripped off eight points in a row to seize the victory.
Cooper had 19 points in another breakout performance, but he missed a potential game-winning jumper from the top of the key at the buzzer.
Sophomore forward Andrea Holden had a double-double off the bench with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
And sophomore wing Solomon Callaghan followed a 20-point effort in a 92-59 win over Radford with 10 points as the Raiders fell to 2-3.
Forward Delrecco Gillespie, a preseason first-team All-MAC pick, had 26 points on 10-of-17 shooting and 17 rebounds.
The Golden Flashes (4-1) had a 46-32 rebounding edge, grabbing a whopping 17 on the offensive end. They also made more free throws than the Raiders attempted, going 21 of 26 to Wright State’s 12 of 19.
“To be up 10 at the nine-minute mark and not find a way is extremely disappointing,” Sargent said.
“Being out-rebounded by 14 and the free-throw line discrepancy and the physicality of the game — that gradually just wears on you. We were doing a lot of good things but didn’t close it out. And that’s what we need to learn how to do.”
Sophomore Dominic Pangonis, who transferred from Stephen F. Austin, made his first two starts of the year at the event but went home with an elbow injury and his arm in a sling.
Asked if Pangonis is OK, Sargent said: “I’m not sure yet. I hope so. He’s been, obviously, playing at a high level.”
The 6-7 wing averaged 10.3 points in the first three games and then scored 11 against Radford while starting in place of veteran Logan Woods.
He played just eight minutes and had two points against Kent State.
As for making the switch, Sargent said: “It’s a combination of things. Logan’s back hasn’t been fully healthy.”
NEXT GAME
Who: Ohio Wesleyan at Wright State
When: 7 p.m. Thursday
Streaming: ESPN+
Radio: 1410-AM, 101.5-FM
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