But while those narrow defeats can be hazardous to a coach’s heath, Clint Sargent was insistent that the Raiders would glean everything they could from those experiences and not repeat their mistakes.
In a closer-than-it-looks, 88-79 home win over Marshall on Wednesday, Sargent made good on that pledge.
Leading by double-digits most of the night and by seven after a Brandon Noel bucket with 5:40 to go, the Raiders ran into a charge by the Herd that left them dazed.
The visitors, in the midst of a 53-point second half, went on a 10-1 surge to take a 78-76 lead with 2:34 to go.
“I’ll be honest, it probably does linger in there a little bit,” Noel said of the repeated heart-breakers. “In years past, we haven’t won those close games. I’m not sure if I can pin down one specific reason. But tonight, it probably did creep into some of our minds — especially the guys who have been here.
“But we’re trying to turn that around and not make it what we’re known for. When we play games in March, that’s what it’s going to come down to.”
Sleek forward Jack Doumbia made two foul shots. And after the Raiders got a stop, Doumbia drew another foul on a drive at 1:57 and made one of two free throws for a 79-78 lead.
The Herd were blanked again on their next possession, and Doumbia scored on a drive to make it 81-78 at 1:17.
Marshall made one of two foul shots at 1:04, but then Alex Huibregtse knocked down a 3 from the wing with 42 ticks left to seal it, bringing foot-stomping joy to the crowd of 3,569.
“I’ve been around for the last few years, and that game right there is a game we’ve lost a number of times — where we’ve had the momentum and were in control. We get hit in the mouth, and everything goes against us — whether we do it to ourselves or the other team does it,” Sargent said.
“To make the big plays like that, I could not be more proud of our group and their resilience.”
The first-year coach called Doumbia, who scored 16 of his 20 points in the final 11 minutes, “an elite difference-maker.”
Having him on the floor was evidence of a lesson Sargent himself learned.
The 6-foot-6 senior, who transferred from Norfolk State this season, didn’t play in the final 15 seconds of the 66-64 loss at Oakland last week. And a play Sargent drew up went awry.
“I hate to learn from close losses, but me and our staff and our team are learning Jack — that’s certainly one I don’t want to make again. And you can already see how learning from some early-season losses can be very good for your team.”
The Raiders improved to 7-5 overall while notching two straight wins over Division-I competition for the first time this year.
Noel had 21 points and 10 rebounds. Huibregtse had 12 points, going 3 of 6 on 3′s, and Drey Carter had 11 points off the bench for his first double-figure game of the year after notching three as a freshman last season.
The Raiders, who made 31 of 54 shots (57.4%) and went 8 of 18 on 3′s, led by as many as 15 in the first half and had a 37-26 edge at the break.
The Herd (5-5), picked to finish 10th in the 14-team Sun Belt Conference, started 5 of 22 from the field and 0 of 8 on 3′s. But they finished 28 of 64 (43.8%) and 9 of 25 on treys.
COLLINS RECOGNIZED: Play-by-play announcer Chris Collins was honored midway through the first half for broadcasting his 850th Raider game. He received a video tribute and a warm ovation.
WEDNESDAY’S GAME
Youngstown State at Wright State, 7 p.m., 101.5, 1410
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