TV/Radio: ESPN+/106.5-FM
Series: Wright State leads 31-29
Coaches: Scott Nagy is 81-39 in his fourth year at Wright State and 481-279 in his 25th year overall. Steve McClain is 64-88 in his fifth year at UIC and 221-203 in 14 years overall.
Probable Wright State starters
Name Ht. Class Pos. Avg.
Loudon Love 6-9 Jr. C 14.8
Tanner Holden 6-6 Fr. F 10.6
Jaylon Hall 6-6 So. F 8.7
Bill Wampler 6-6 Sr. G 15.0
Cole Gentry 5-10 Sr. G 10.9
Probable UIC starters
Tarkus Ferguson 6-4 Sr. G 14.4
Braelen Bridges 6-10 So. F 7.1
Marcus Ottey 6-2 Sr. G 12.3
Michael Diggins 6-8 Jr. F 9.0
Jordan Blount 6-8 Sr. F 5.6
About Wright State: The Raiders are going for their ninth straight win, their most since winning 11 in a row in 2007-08. … They're hitting 35.3 percent on 3-pointers with Gentry at 40.8 and Wampler 40.2. Back-up James Manns leads the way at 46.2. They're on pace for their best mark since hitting 38.1 percent in 2016-17. … They out-rebounded IUPUI, 48-38, and have a Horizon League-best rebound margin of plus-5.4. They've won the battle of the boards in 12 of 13 games with Love in the lineup. He has a 10.2 average. The school record is 10.9 by Bill Fogt in 1971-72. Holden has been deceptively strong with a 6.5 average. "That's always been a big stat for me," Nagy said. "It's a heart stat. It's more than just how big you are or athletic you are. I think it has to do with how badly you want the ball."
About UIC: The Flames, who finished 16-16 last season, are coming off a 68-52 home loss to Northern Kentucky on ESPN2 for their fourth straight defeat. … Ferguson, who was suspended for undisclosed reasons earlier this season, was a preseason first-team all-league pick. He was second-team all-league last season and joined Green Bay's Sandy Cohen III as the only conference players to lead their teams in points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and minutes. He posted just the second triple-double in program history and averaged 15.5 points and 6.8 rebounds. … Ottey, who has played just eight games because of a foot injury, earned preseason second-team all-league honors. … The Flames went 2-0 against Wright State in 2018-19. They won, 75-72, in overtime at the Nutter Center when freshman Travell Washington hit a corner 3-pointer as time expired. They prevailed in the rematch, 67-53, at home as Ferguson and Ottey scored 16 apiece.
Coming up: The Raiders play three straight home games, starting with Cleveland State at 7 p.m. Thursday and culminating in a showdown with Northern Kentucky at 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24, on ESPNU.
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