Looking like a team that couldn’t afford to lose, Wright State finished the first half on a 7-0 run, took control early in the second half and held on for a 78-70 road victory.
The rivals had split the previous 10 meetings since 2020-21, and the Norse didn’t go down easily —cutting it to two with under two minutes to go. But the Raiders didn’t flinch.
“I don’t know whether to smile or cry,” Sargent said before taking his first question on his post-game radio show.
“Obviously, it was another last-four-minute situation where Alex (Huibregtse) fouls out and all of a sudden we’re just in it again. I know this is building something that’s unshakeable in our team. This is an incredible win and something we can build on.”
Keaton Norris had a career-high 21 points, going 8 of 11 from the field and 3 of 5 on 3′s while adding five assists with no turnovers.
Jack Doumbia had 15 points and eight rebounds, while Brandon Noel had 12 points and Huibregtse 11.
Andrea Holden, a 6-foot-6, freshman making his first start, had five points and a game-high nine rebounds.
Michael Imariagbe, who didn’t play in the PFW game, had eight points and eight rebounds.
Sargent lauded Norris for “his will to win and the plays he was making and the tough shots he was making.”
Imariagbe also earned kudos from the coach:
“Mike didn’t play against Fort Wayne. The match up wasn’t quite right for him. But that’s why I continue to say, even though the results and record aren’t what I think the team deserves, I show up the next day to see who’s handling the disappointment of the loss well, and Mike responded with a great practice — just great buy-in.”
The Raiders (10-10 overall and 4-5 in the Horizon League) took a 58-47 lead with 8:36 to go. They still led, 65-55, on an Huibregtse bucket with 5:06 left.
But NKU (10-10, 4-5) scored seven straight points and made it 65-62 on a Josh Dilling 3 at 4:07.
Two free throws by Sam Vinson made it 70-68 at 1:47. But Noel converted a three-point play off an assist from Norris for a 73-68 lead.
The Norse pulled to within three again, but Noel scored on a put-back to seal it.
The Raiders had a 41-29 rebounding edge and went 30 of 63 from the field (47.6%) while holding NKU to 21-of-53 shooting (39.6%).
WEDNESDAY’S GAME
Milwaukee at Wright State, 7 p.m., ESPN+, 101.5, 1410
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