DAYTON, Ohio – Wright State used red-hot shooting in the second half to take the lead and never look back in claiming a big win over the Milwaukee men's basketball team Saturday night at the Nutter Center.
 
The Panthers (9-10, 4-4 Horizon League) took a 47-43 lead on the first make of the second half before the Raiders (10-10, 5-4 Horizon League) took over. WSU ended up shooting nearly 80 percent in the second half, making 16 of its first 17 shots after intermission to take control.
 
Four players finished in double figures for MKE, led by 17 from BJ Freeman. Kentrell Pullian had 15 points, Elijah Jamison 11, and Erik Pratt just missed a double-double with 13 points while tying a career high with nine rebounds.
 
"Give Wright State credit, but at some point, we have to do a little soul-searching and figure out who we are as a basketball team and what we want to be about," head coach Bart Lundy said.
 
All five starters finished in double-figures for Wright State, led by 23 points from Brandon Noel and 20 from Tanner Holden in claiming the 95-81 decision.
 
"We're not guarding anybody and we're giving up 90-plus points a game," Lundy said. "We don't seem to seem to have a lot of pride on the defensive end – poor coaching, poor defending by the players – something has to give or we're not going to win many games."
 
It was quite a change following a thrilling first half, filled with eight lead changes and four ties. Down early, Freeman hit a three that made it 9-7 and a Pratt triple put MKE ahead at 19-18.
 
It was non-stop action up and down the court the rest of the half, with a dunk by Learic Davis the final lead change of the period at 42-41 before the score at the break read 44-43 despite foul trouble for a handful of players, including three on Freeman.
 
Pratt made it 47-43 to start the second but it was all WSU from there. The Raiders scored 11 consecutive points to take a 54-47 lead. Milwaukee had an answer early and was back within four at 56-52 when Freeman converted a four-point play at the 15:36 mark.
 
The home side just kept making shots, connecting on 78.6 percent (22-of-28) after intermission in building a double-digit cushion at 67-57 before a 14-2 spurt made it 81-59. The Panthers had one final push left in them and were back within 13 at 81-68 but that was the closest it would get.
 
The MKE offense made 47.7 percent (31-of-65) of its field goals and claimed the rebounding battle, 35-21. The Raiders ended the evening at 63.6 percent (35-of-55) overall after the big second half.
 
Up next, the team closes out January with a pair of home games, starting with a 7 p.m. matchup against Detroit Mercy Thursday.