“It’s hard for me to really comprehend it — unless I take a step back and view it as a man watching young men grow through a lot of disappointment, a lot of failure, a lot of heartbreaking losses where, in my opinion, they did plenty to win.”
The Raiders were outscored, 7-2, in the final 50 seconds.
They led by 18 in the first half and by 14 at halftime.
They still looked to be in good shape after taking an 11-point lead with seven minutes to go.
But then the roof caved in.
Keaton Norris hit a clutch bucket with 11 seconds to go for an 86-85 lead. But the Penguins; Juwan Maxey found a gap in a 1-3-1 zone and knocked down a 3 with three seconds to go.
It was the Raiders’ sixth straight loss to YSU (and 10th in the last 12 games in the series) and left them 1-6 in games decided by four points or fewer this season. They also had a double-overtime defeat to Purdue Fort Wayne (the final margin was 120-113).
That’s a lot to overcome.
They still have eight games to go and then the Horizon League tourney, and the potential is there to make a late-season charge.
But they’re 11-12 overall and 5-7 in the HL. They’re all but eliminated from the league race.
How much resolve can they muster to keep the season from ending up in the what-could-have-been drawer?
“As coach, it’s hard for me to understand the results completely. Some of it, I do. I understand some of our patterns. But, again, I think we’re doing enough to win,” Sargent said.
“I’m growing through, arguably, the hardest year you could draw up. I know how God works, at least up until this point in my life. He’s used really the most difficult times to grow me the most. And that’s been my prayer for our players.”
Brandon Noel had 23 points and 12 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the year after getting nine last season.
Norris had 17 points and six assists, while Jack Doumbia had 14 points and Alex Huibregtse 12.
The Raiders made 32 of 57 shots (56.1%) and finished 11 of 27 on 3′s after making 9 of 17 in the first half.
YSU, which won the first meeting, 80-70, at the Nutter Center, made 20 of 27 foul shots, while Wright State went 11 of 14.
Free throws were probably the difference — that and having another swing and miss on defense.
The Raiders scored 50 first-half points, which was their most in a half on the road since dropping 59 on Oakland at the end of last season. But they also were gashed for 50 second-half points, and that will get you beat.
“A lot of it was, defensively, not being able to get the timely stop — or two stops — and guarding them without fouling and putting them on the free-throw line,” Sargent said.
“We gave up 50, and that’s what we’ve got to iron out, especially on the road.”
SUNDAY’S GAME
Robert Morris at Wright State, 2 p.m., ESPN+, 101.5, 1410
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