Raiders win first men’s NCAA Tournament game with First Four victory

Playing 12 miles away from their home court, the Wright State men’s basketball team earned the program’s first win in the NCAA Tournament with a 93–82 victory over Bryant on March 16 at UD Arena.

No. 16 Wright State will now play No. 1 Arizona on Friday, March 18, at Viejas Arena in San Diego in the first round in the South Regional. Tip-off is 7:27 p.m. eastern. The game will be broadcast on truTV.

The First Four presented a quasi-home game for the Raiders as they played before a friendly crowd filled with Wright State supporters who chanted “Let’s Go Raiders” throughout the second half.

Guard Tanner Holden was sensational, leading the Raiders with 37 points and 11 rebounds. Holden hit 11–15 from the field and 14–16 from the free-throw line.

Guard Trey Calvin scored 21 points while grabbing five rebounds to go with four assists. Forward Grant Basile contributed 14 points and eight rebounds.

After a slow first-half start, Wright State surged ahead with a 12–2 run to take a five-point lead at 12-7.

Playing at a fast pace, the Raiders and Bulldogs traded baskets for the rest of the half, and Wright State went into the locker room after 20 minutes with a 44–42 lead.

The Raiders took control of the game early in the second half, expanding their lead to eight on Calvin’s floater at 16:27. Wright State eventually built a commanding 16-point lead.

Wright State held Bryant to a season-low 16.7% from 3-point range, including 1 for 13 in the second half.

The Raiders grabbed 44 rebounds, their second-most of the season, including 13 offensive rebounds.

Guard Tanner Holden was sensational, leading the Raiders with 37 points and 11 rebounds. (Photo by Joseph Craven)

Wright State has been on a magical postseason run that started with three consecutive wins in the Horizon League Tournament, including a thrilling 72–71 comeback victory over Northern Kentucky in the 2022 Horizon League Championship in Indiana Farmers Coliseum.

The league title gave Wright State an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The Raiders entered the tournament with a 21–13 record.

This year marked the fourth trip to the NCAA Tournament for the men’s basketball program and its first tournament victory. The Raiders also qualified for the tournament in 1993, 2007 and 2018.