By Pete Ross

2 21 2025

Brandon Noel & Michael Imariagbe WSU M BKB Postgame Press Conference NKU 80 WSU 76 2 21 2025

DAYTON – Brandon Noel tallied 18 of his 22 points in the final 20 minutes to lead a second half charge, but the Wright State men’s basketball team came up just short, falling 80-76 Friday night at home to Northern Kentucky inside the Nutter Center.

Noel’s 22 points were a game high, as were his 11 rebounds, as he collected his ninth double-double of the year to lead four Raiders in double figures scoring.

Wright State ended the game with a 55 percent overall shooting mark (33-of-60) and connected on six three-pointers (6-of-19, 32 percent), however, the Raiders made just one second half try from deep. Northern Kentucky shot 54 percent overall (30-of-56), but the Raiders held them to just 39 percent in the second half. The visitors were 48 percent from deep (7-of-15).

The difference of the night came at the stripe, where Northern Kentucky was 13-of-23 (57 percent) and Wright State got to the line just 13 times, connecting on just four attempts (4-of-13, 31 percent). The Raiders won the rebounding battle, 38-28, and finished with a 52-44 edge in paint points, but had 14 turnovers that resulted in 16 Northern Kentucky points.

COURTESY WRIGHT STATE ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS