Horizon run hits Detroit road block
By Marc Katz
mkatz@daytondailynews.com
DETROIT | That drive toward second place in the Horizon League took a detour for the Wright State Raiders Wednesday night, and not exactly in Motown's fast lane.
Shut-down defense and free throws dominated in the final six minutes of the first half, when Detroit nearly shut out the Raiders on the way to a 70-66 victory at Calihan Hall.
Wright State coach Paul Biancardi said both teams wanted to play that way, so at least that part of it worked out.
Wright State took a season-low 40 shots and couldn't make up from the line for that lack of opportunity. In all, WSU made 25 of 34 free throws. Together, the teams shot 51-of-70 from the line.
"For one, we missed a lot of easy shots," said DaShaun Wood, who scored 28 points for his family and hometown fans. Fifteen of those points came from the line. "We didn't rebound. There were no second-chance points."
Torvoris Baker pulled down 12 rebounds for Detroit, more than any two WSU players.
Biancardi liked the way his team stayed in the game — the Titans led by 12 with 7:38 to play — but pointed out the deficit in rebounding (especially 14-8 offensively) and turnovers (14 for WSU, 5 for Detroit).
Then he flipped the page to the first half.
"The last five minutes of the first half is where the game changed," Biancardi said. "We were up 24-18 and got out-scored 12-1." The loss, coupled with second-place Butler's victory over Cleveland State, gives Butler a two-game lead over the Raiders in the loss column entering Saturday's game at WSU. Wright State is 11-11 and 7-5 and its three-game winning streak is over.
• Reserve Tyrone Scott, like Wood, is from Detroit, and he scored seven against the Titans in 21 minutes. "It's my home," Scott said when asked if he liked playing here. Wood said he has known Detroit star Brandon Cotton a long time.
"I played a lot with Cotton in AAU games," Wood said. "He and I were on the same team. I've been playing with him since we were 12-13 years old." Cotton scored 22 points against the Raiders, but made just four of 17 shots. He was 13 of 19 from the foul line.
• Despite Detroit's poor record this season — the Titans are 12-14, 6-7 in the league — Biancardi admires the Titans.
"Detroit and Milwaukee — those two teams, along with Butler — have been the flagship of the Horizon League. When you beat them, it's a good win. The record is never an indication of how good a team Detroit can be.
"Look at the tournament every year. Detroit's in the semis or finals."
• Even before the season began, Detroit ran into injury problems. Done for the year were senior three-year starter Ryvon Covile who had knee surgery from a summer game. Marquette transfer Brandon Bell tore an Achilles tendon and senior forward/center Etan Shaw has played with knee problems.
Add to that assorted other injuries, including a left-hand car accident injury to Cotton, who missed a few games.
Contact Marc Katz at 225-2157.
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