But while first-year coach Clint Sargent and his players had reason to believe their defensive woes were behind them, Horizon League preseason co-favorite Purdue Fort Wayne showed them just how far they have to go.
In a mind-bending, 120-113 double-overtime victory, the Mastodons stopped the Raiders on a potential game-winning possession in regulation, pulled off an escape job worthy of David Blaine at the end of the first OT and dominated the final five-minute extra session to improve to 14-6 overall and 7-2 in the league.
The Raiders had several players who deserve to take bows for their masterful offense — Alex Huibregtse had 31 points (one off his career high) after missing the previous game with a back injury, Jack Doumbia had 23 points (all after halftime) and 13 rebounds, and Brandon Noel had 23 points and nine boards — but everyone was culpable on the defensive side.
That’s the most points allowed in the program’s DivisionI history (since 1987).
They fell to 9-10 overall and 3-5 in the league with their fifth loss in the last seven games.
PFW, which trailed by as many as 10 in the first half and six at halftime, started 10 of 12 from the field in the second half and shot 53.3% overall while also going 16 of 33 on 3′s.
“Obviously, you’ve got to start with Fort Wayne and give them a ton of credit. They’re a very good team. Their guys made plays,” Sargent said.
“But I’m very proud of our players. I’m absolutely heartbroken — heartbroken for them, their families and our fans. I know what this journey has been, and I know how close we are.
“I just saw a lot of great things in terms of some scrap and some fight. I wish that could be honored with a win, but I know sports, like life, it can be cruel and unfair.”
The Raiders set up for a last-second shot with the score tied, 90-90, in regulation. Noel, though, was called for an offensive foul with 16 seconds left, givnig the Mastodons the final fling. It didn’t come close.
Wright State led by five with 29 seconds left in the first OT. Yes, five.
Jalen Jackson (30 points) hit a 3 to cut it to two. But no worries. With PFW forced to foul, Andrew Welage stepped up and knocked down a pair of free throws, pushing the lead back to four with 13 seconds left.
Then crazy happened.
Chandler Cuthrell got loose for a dunk with seven seconds to go. After a hurried inbounds pass to Keaton Norris in the corner and a tussel for the ball, Jackson muscled it away and drove to a tying layup with 1.9 seconds left.
“Keaton thought he got fouled. He might have gotten fouled. But those situations are hard on officials, just because there’s a lot going on,” Sargent said.
“Fort Wayne is second in the league in steals, so they’re handsy. They made a play and executed.”
The second OT became a barrage of 3′s from the visitors, leaving the Raiders flummoxed and 3,298 fans trudging toward the exits.
“They hit a few tough shots, and we didn’t hit shots,” Noel said. “I thought we had it for a second. Unfortunately, we didn’t, so this one is going to sting for a while.”
Huibregtse, who became the 39th Raider to join the 1,000-point club at 1,020, added: “All night, it was tough for us to get stops on defense. I mean, they’re a high-scoring team. We knew that going in. We tried a little zone, and it worked for a while, but they just kept scoring.”
The Raiders wasted their best rebounding effort of the year with a 49-35 edge.
They also made 42 of 84 shots and 17 of 21 free throws.
But after holding defending league champ Oakland to 62 points in a win last week, PFW almost doubled that, albeit with the help of 10 OT minutes.
“Although heartbroken, I’m encouraged because I saw some real growth in some real moments. I think Fort Wayne just made a couple more plays,” Sargent said.
“It’s unfortunate how we executed late (in the first OT) with the ball, trying breaking the press. But our guys poured it out. They absolutely did. I didn’t think they deserved this, but that’s life.”
SATURDAY’S GAME
Wright State at Northern Kentucky, 2 p.m., ESPN+, 101.5, 1410
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