INDIANAPOLIS (Interstat) — In a grinding, defensive struggle where points were at a premium, the Wright State Raiders executed down the stretch to edge the Detroit Titans 66-63 in a Horizon League men’s basketball tournament quarterfinal on Tuesday night at Fairgrounds Coliseum.

The game, characterized by missed shots and physical play, saw Wright State overcome a three-point halftime deficit with a decisive second-half surge, ultimately holding off a frantic final-minute rally by Detroit to advance.

Detroit, which led 29-26 at the break behind 15 first-half points from Orlando Lovejoy, saw its offensive rhythm vanish after halftime. The Titans shot just 35% from the floor for the game and managed only five assists against 11 turnovers. Their offensive rating of 90.0 points per 100 possessions underscored the difficulty of the night.

Wright State, conversely, found a higher gear after intermission, scoring 40 second-half points. While their shooting was only marginally better at 39.7%, they capitalized at the free-throw line late and used a key 7-0 run in the final three minutes to create separation. The Raiders also dominated the interior defensively, recording six blocked shots to Detroit’s two.

The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the final three minutes with Wright State clinging to a 54-52 lead. After a Detroit turnover, Kellen Pickett found Logan Woods for a corner three-pointer to push the lead to five. On the ensuing possession, Orlando Lovejoy committed an offensive foul, and Woods struck again, draining another three-pointer off an assist from Michael Cooper to extend the Raiders’ advantage to 62-52 with just 1:21 remaining.

That eight-point burst proved insurmountable despite a desperate Detroit comeback attempt. The Titans answered with a Lovejoy layup and a three-pointer from TJ Nadeau to cut the deficit to 65-63 with nine seconds left. After Wright State’s Michael Cooper missed two free throws, Detroit had a chance to tie or win on the final possession. Lovejoy drove the lane, but Pickett, a defensive force all night, swatted the attempt to preserve the victory as time expired.

Pickett, a 6-foot-9 forward from Fort Wayne, Indiana, was the central figure for Wright State, finishing with 17 points, three assists and four blocks in 30 minutes. His presence altered countless shots and his two key assists in the final minutes were pivotal. TJ Burch added 19 points for the Raiders, while Michael Imariagbe contributed 12 points.

For Detroit, Lovejoy, a junior guard from Detroit, led all scorers with 26 points. TJ Nadeau of South Lyon, Michigan, added 21 points, including three three-pointers. Legend Geeter chipped in 11 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

The game was a stark contrast to the teams’ previous meeting on Feb. 12, a 77-74 Detroit victory. This tournament edition was a defensive battle, with the combined point total of 129 falling far below the pregame over/under line of 153.5.

With the win, Wright State improved to 23-11 and advanced to the tournament semifinals. Detroit’s season ends with a 17-15 record. The Raiders, who were pregame 3.5-point favorites, will face the winner of the Northern Kentucky and Oakland quarterfinal on Monday.