Wright State beats Bryant 93-82 for NCAA Tournament win

Tanner Holden had 37 factors and 11 rebounds and Wright State beat Bryant 93-82 on Wednesday night time for its first NCAA Event victory.

Enjoying contained in the College of Dayton Area simply 12 miles from its house court docket, Wright State (22-13) superior to play top-seeded Arizona in San Diego on Friday within the West Area.

“It was a frantic-paced recreation,” Wright State coach Scott Nagy mentioned. “We haven’t had many groups this 12 months come at us like that simply after each make and miss and turnover.”

Holden was 11 of 15 from the sector. Tyler Calvin added 21 factors, and Grant Basile had 14.

Peter Kiss, the NCAA’s main scorer, led Bryant (22-10) with 28 factors.

“Our guys performed laborious sufficient to win, we simply didn’t play nicely sufficient to win,” Bryant coach Jared Grasso mentioned.

The Raiders led 44-42 at halftime behind 20 factors from Holden.

Each groups had been seeded sixteenth.

GUARDING THE NATION’S BEST

Kiss entered the sport averaging 25.1 factors per recreation.

Wright State guard Tim Finke drew the task of guarding Kiss. Finke pressured Kiss to make 4 turnovers and shoot beneath his season common of 45.6% from the sector.

“Tim’s a implausible defender. We’ve identified that each one 12 months,” Basile mentioned. “He made him work for it.”

HOLDEN’S HOT HAND

Holden made a season-high 14 free throws, together with an ideal 8-for-8 clip within the first half. He completed only one level shy of tying his profession excessive.

“I feel it was undoubtedly an excellent booster for us,” Holden mentioned. “Emotionally, I assumed the group did an ideal job being energetic and moving into it. It’s superior to have the ability to do that, like Grant mentioned, in your yard.”

HOMETOWN HEROS

Situated east of Dayton, Wright State made its fourth NCAA Event look. The Raiders gained the Horizon League Event in 2018 however misplaced to No. 3 Tennessee within the first spherical.

After navigating off-the-court adversity during which 5 gamers had been impacted by the deaths of a father or mother or grandparent, Wright State etched program historical past whereas banding behind the mantra, “Brotherhood over Basketball.”

“That is the primary one and can all the time be the primary one,” Nagy mentioned. “The place we did it, how we did it, all these issues, I imply, it’s a lifetime second for these guys.”

BIG PICTURE

Bryant: The Bulldogs shot a season-low 16.7% from 3-point vary, going 1 for 13 within the second half.

Wright State: The Raiders had 44 rebounds, their second-most of the season. They’ve 13 offensive rebounds.

UP NEXT

Wright State: Vs. No. 1 Arizona on Friday in San Diego.

“I feel we’re all assured and we’re going there to win,” Holden mentioned. “We’re not simply going there for the expertise of March Insanity.”