Wright State's basketball program has pulled off an impressive feat, clinching the Horizon League regular-season championship outright-a rare achievement in their history. After a challenging 15-18 season, the Raiders have turned things around with a 74-70 victory over Purdue Fort Wayne on the road, securing the title with one game left against Northern Kentucky.
Now sitting at 19-11 overall and 14-5 in the Horizon League, Wright State has earned the top seed for the upcoming league tournament. They'll face off against the winner of the play-in game between the 10th and 11th seeds at the Nutter Center.
This marks their fifth conference title since joining in 1994-95, with previous wins in 2020-21, 2018-19, and 2006-07.
“It was a long time coming. First off, praise the Lord.
We’ve been through a lot from last year coming into this year. This team really bought into what we were preaching and what we were trying to be about,” said second-year coach Clint Sargent during his post-game radio interview.
The Raiders had a shaky start, trailing by eight in the first half. However, they rallied with a 15-2 run to lead 31-26 at halftime. Solomon Callaghan ignited the second half with eight quick points, including two 3-pointers, while Logan Woods' three-point play extended their lead to 48-38.
Despite Purdue Fort Wayne's efforts to close the gap, Callaghan and Dom Pangonis kept Wright State ahead, with Callaghan hitting another crucial 3-pointer to widen the margin.
Callaghan, who had been quiet in recent games, exploded for 24 points, going 6 of 7 from beyond the arc. Woods added 16 points on efficient shooting.
Coach Sargent expressed gratitude to the fans, saying, “Thank you for all the fans who are riding through this with us-who can see all the flaws and all the shortcomings but just stayed with us in the fight of it. This is for you.”
The Raiders' sharp shooting from three-point range made a significant difference, as they outshot PFW 9 of 19 to 5 of 22 from long distance.
In addition to his on-court success, Callaghan was named to the Horizon League all-academic team, showcasing his dedication both on and off the court.
Wright State's next challenge awaits in the league tournament, where they'll aim to carry this momentum forward. Fans can catch the action streaming on ESPN+ or tune in via 1410-AM and 101.5-FM.