Wright St defeats E Michigan 70-64
Wright State Wins Thrilling Non-Conference Showdown Against Eastern Michigan
In a tightly contested matchup, Wright State University (WSU) emerged victorious over visiting Eastern Michigan University (EMU), 70-64, at the Nutter Center on Tuesday night.
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading baskets and displaying impressive defensive efforts. At halftime, WSU held a narrow lead of 34-33, but the home team seized control in the second half, outscoring EMU by seven points.
WSU's Michael Cooper led the way for his team, scoring 18 points on 46.7% shooting from the field, including just one three-pointer. Kellen Pickett chipped in with nine rebounds and 10 points, while Dominic Pangonis added five assists to round out the trio of double-digit scorers.
For EMU, Carlos Hart led the way with 18 points, but his team struggled from beyond the arc, making just two of four three-point attempts. Mohammad Habhab provided a spark on the glass, grabbing seven rebounds and scoring 13 points.
The difference in free-throw shooting was a crucial factor in the game's outcome. WSU made 20 of 32 free throws, while EMU converted just 11 of 16 attempts. The home team also outrebounded EMU by nine boards, securing key rebounds on both ends of the floor.
In terms of advanced statistics, WSU's eFG% (50.0%) and True Shooting% (54.6%) were significantly higher than EMU's, indicating a more efficient offense. Meanwhile, EMU's TO Ratio (16.7%) was nearly identical to WSU's, suggesting that both teams struggled with turnovers.
The win marks the first victory for WSU in the 2025-26 season, while EMU falls to 0-2 against non-conference opponents.
Overall, it was a hard-fought and entertaining matchup between two evenly matched teams. WSU's ability to seize control in the second half proved decisive, as they outlasted their visitors by six points.
Game Stats:
Wright State (HOME):
* Field Goals: 23/50 (46.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 19/35 (54.3%)
* 3-Point FG: 4/15 (27.0%)
* Free Throws: 20/32 (63.0%)
* Rebounds: 38
* Assists: 13
* Turnovers: 13
* Steals: 7
* Blocks: 6
Eastern Michigan (AWAY):
* Field Goals: 24/58 (41.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 19/45 (42.2%)
* 3-Point FG: 5/13 (38.0%)
* Free Throws: 11/16 (69.0%)
* Rebounds: 31
* Assists: 7
* Turnovers: 11
* Steals: 7
* Blocks: 3