3/18/2022

SAN DIEGO — The No. 16 seeded Wright State men’s basketball team’s historic season ended on Friday night, falling to No. 1 Arizona 87-70 in the First Round of the NCAA Division I tournament at Viejas Arena. 

Grant Basile led Wright State (22-14) with a game-high 21 points to go along with five rebounds and three blocks, while Trey Calvin had 16 points and four assists. Tim Finke added 15 points and four steals. Tanner Holden also reached double figures with 12 points. 

Top-seeded Arizona (32-3) led by 16 points late in the first period and was up 42-31 at halftime before the Raiders stormed back within 49-42 at the 16:38 minute mark of the second half on a 3-pointer and three-point play from Basile. 

In response, the Wildcats pulled away with a 15-2 run and led by double digits for the remainder of the postseason contest. 

Arizona’s Christian Koloko keyed the second-half surge with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Bennedict Mathurin scored 18 points and Dalen Terry had 16 for the Wildcats. 

The loss closes out a season that saw WSU record 20-plus win for the sixth time in seven years and capture its first NCAA Division I postseason victory, beating Bryant 93-82 in the First Four. 

COURTESY WRIGHT STATE ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS