Once Rolf, a Centerville grad going against his hometown team for the first time, made the second free throw for a one-point lead, the Raiders almost left skid marks on the floor as they took off toward the other end.
“We wanted the ball with a full head of steam in the middle-third (of the court). They’re a very good defensive team. We wanted their defense to not be able to get set,” Sargent said on the bus ride home Wednesday night.
“We didn’t get the cleanest look, but in terms of executing that, it’s what we wanted.”
Freshman Michael Cooper, the team’s leading scorer, likely will hit a slew of big shots before his career is finished, but he misfired from the corner. And the Raiders’ hopes for a momentous road win to begin Horizon League play were dashed in a 69-68 defeat.
“This team’s going to do it. We’re going to break through. But we did a lot wrong — like our effort on the glass,” Sargent said of getting out-rebounded, 39-23.
“It’s really something I don’t quite understand with the makeup of our team, our habits and what we set forth as an identity. Rebounding was one of the (pillars). And it’s not showing up on the road. It’s hard to win when you get out-rebounded by 16.”
A lineup change put the Raiders’ best rebounding unit on the floor. Sargent went with the team’s best leaper, 6-6 sophomore Andrea Holden, instead of another perimeter player.
But YSU (5-4, 1-0) had 14 offensive rebounds to Wright State’s five.
“We pride ourselves on rebounding, and we have not done it,” Sargent said.
“In terms of the basketball part of it, that’s probably the biggest disappointment.”
The Raiders (4-5, 0-1) shot 52.1% from the field, and they managed to get to the foul line often (a big departure from previous games). But they couldn’t connect, going 15 of 28 to the Penguins’ 12 of 20.
Michael Imariagbe had 15 points and TJ Burch 14.
Sam Alamutu, a transfer guard from Vermont, went into the night with the ninth-most minutes this season, scoring just 23 points, but he had 13 along with a team-high seven rebounds in 26 minutes.
“He’s got it in him. He’s played in big games. He’s got great leadership skills, and we need him,” Sargent said.
The Raiders have a 50-22 edge in the all-time series with Youngstown State, but they’ve been getting dominated lately.
That’s seven wins in a row for the Penguins, who are the only league team with a winning record against Wright State since coach Scott Nagy and Sargent, his top assistant, arrived in 2016-17.
They’re 11-8 in the last 10 seasons. Northern Kentucky has the next-best mark at 11-11.
“This one stings,” Sargent said. “But I love my team. I absolutely love them.
“I love competing with them, and I know we’re only going to get better.”
NEXT GAME
Who: Green Bay at Wright State
When: 5 p.m. Sunday
Streaming: ESPN+
Radio: 1410-AM, 101.5-FM
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