FAIRBORN, Ohio (Interstat) — In a pivotal Horizon League clash that lived up to its billing, the Wright State Raiders weathered a furious second-half rally from Purdue Fort Wayne to secure a 73-68 victory before a crowd of 4,298 at the Ervin J. Nutter Center on Saturday.

The game’s defining stretch came not in the frantic final minutes, but in its opening act. Wright State, leveraging its size and efficiency, constructed a commanding lead that ultimately proved insurmountable. The Raiders blitzed the Mastodons early, shooting a scorching 60% from the field in the first half. They established dominance in the paint and on the glass, outrebounding Purdue Fort Wayne and converting second-chance opportunities. This early surge yielded a 43-29 halftime advantage, a 14-point cushion built on a foundation of balanced scoring and defensive pressure.

Michael Imariagbe, the Raiders’ 6-foot-7 forward from Houston, was instrumental in establishing that early command. He set the tone with 19 points, showcasing a versatile inside game, and grabbed a game-high four offensive rebounds as part of Wright State’s 11-6 advantage on the offensive glass. His frontcourt partner, 6-foot-9 Fort Wayne native Kellen Pickett, added 14 points and connected on three critical three-pointers, stretching the Mastodon defense. The backcourt duo of Solomon Callaghan and Michael Cooper provided steady support, scoring 11 and 13 points respectively, with Cooper dishing out four assists.

Faced with the substantial deficit, Purdue Fort Wayne emerged from the locker room with renewed defensive vigor. The Mastodons, who lead the Horizon League in steals, intensified their pressure, forcing eight second-half Wright State turnovers. This defensive energy fueled a transition attack that had been dormant before halftime. Purdue Fort Wayne outscored Wright State 16-4 in fastbreak points for the game, with the majority coming during their comeback attempt.

Spearheading the charge was guard Corey Hadnot. The Atlanta native delivered a game-high 22 points, including 15 in the second half, and added five assists. His backcourt mate, Mikale Stevenson, chipped in 17 points, hitting key three-pointers to keep the pressure on the Raiders. The Mastodons methodically chipped away at the lead, using a 15-4 run to pull within a single possession on multiple occasions in the final ten minutes.

The most critical sequence of the comeback—and the game’s decisive response—occurred with just over nine minutes remaining. After a Hadnot jumper cut the Wright State lead to 56-52, the Raiders’ offense, which had grown stagnant, answered immediately. On the ensuing possession, Imariagbe found Callaghan for a clutch three-pointer. Following a Mastodon timeout, Pickett struck again from beyond the arc, assisted by Cooper, to push the lead back to 64-52 in a span of just 36 seconds. That quick, six-point burst halted Purdue Fort Wayne’s momentum and restored a double-digit advantage that the Mastodons could not overcome again.

Purdue Fort Wayne made one final push in the last two minutes. A three-pointer from Maximus Nelson and a Darius Duffy dunk, set up by Deandre Craig, brought the Mastodons to within 69-67 with 50 seconds left. Wright State, however, sealed the game at the free-throw line. Imariagbe, fouled twice in the final 18 seconds, calmly sank all four of his attempts to provide the final margin. A desperation three-point attempt by Purdue Fort Wayne to tie in the final seconds missed its mark.

Statistically, the game was a tale of two halves and contrasting strengths. Both teams finished shooting an identical 26 of 53 from the field. Wright State’s advantage came from the free-throw line, where they attempted 24 shots to Purdue Fort Wayne’s 13, making 14. The Raiders also won the battle inside, outscoring the Mastodons 32-28 in the paint and capitalizing on their offensive rebounds. Purdue Fort Wayne’s defensive activity was reflected in their 10 steals and 18 points off turnovers, but their 11 team turnovers and Wright State’s 11 offensive boards negated many of those gains.

With the win, Wright State improves to 16-9 overall and solidifies its position in the upper tier of the Horizon League. Purdue Fort Wayne, which had won three of its last four coming in, falls to 14-11. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Fort Wayne on Wednesday, Feb. 25.

The Raiders next host Detroit on Thursday, while the Mastodons travel to face Green Bay on the same night.