AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (Interstat) — Wright State built a commanding first-half lead and withstood a furious second-half rally by Oakland to earn a 94-84 victory in Horizon League men’s basketball Sunday at the Athletics Center O’rena. The Raiders led 49-30 at halftime, but the Golden Grizzlies responded with 54 second-half points, fueled by 28 points off turnovers and 24 fastbreak points. Wright State countered with 48 points in the paint to secure the win. Oakland had been a 4.5-point favorite. The victory improved Wright State to 11-7 overall. Oakland fell to 9-9. Attendance was 2,774.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (Interstat) — In a Horizon League men’s basketball contest defined by a stunning reversal of momentum, the Wright State Raiders weathered a furious second-half rally from the Oakland Golden Grizzlies to secure a 94-84 victory on Sunday at the Athletics Center O’rena. The game unfolded as a tale of two starkly different halves. Wright State (11-7, 4-1 Horizon) dominated the opening period, building a 19-point halftime lead behind efficient offense and stifling defense. The Raiders scored 49 first-half points, shooting effectively from the field and capitalizing on their size advantage to tally 48 points in the paint for the game. Oakland (9-9, 3-2), meanwhile, was held to just 30 points before the break, struggling to find any offensive rhythm. The second half, however, was a whirlwind of pressure and transition play entirely controlled by the Golden Grizzlies. Sparked by a relentless full-court press, Oakland erupted for 54 points, forcing a flurry of Wright State turnovers and converting them into 28 points off those mistakes. The Golden Grizzlies also racked up 24 fastbreak points, relentlessly attacking the basket to slice deeply into the once-formidable deficit. The most critical phase of the game came late in the second half as Oakland’s surge reached its peak. After trailing by as many as 23 points, the Golden Grizzlies, led by a spectacular individual effort from guard Brody Robinson, clawed to within single digits. Robinson, a junior from Houston, Texas, poured in a game-high 35 points, with 25 coming after halftime, to spearhead the comeback. His driving layups, free throws, and clutch three-pointers ignited the home crowd of 2,774 and repeatedly put Wright State on its heels. With the Raiders’ lead dwindling and momentum fully shifted, the outcome hinged on Wright State’s ability to withstand the onslaught and execute in the final minutes. The Raiders, who committed a series of turnovers against the press, finally stabilized their offense through their primary scorers. Solomon Callaghan, the sophomore guard from Wadsworth, Ohio, delivered a team-high 27 points, including several crucial baskets to stem Oakland runs. His backcourt mate, TJ Burch of Dallas, Texas, added 18 points and six assists, while forward Kellen Pickett of Fort Wayne, Indiana, contributed 18 points and three assists. The decisive sequence occurred inside the final two minutes. After Oakland’s Michael Houge hit a three-pointer to cut Wright State’s lead to 75-70 with 1:50 remaining, the Raiders needed a response. On the ensuing possession, they worked the ball inside to Dominic Pangonis, who was fouled and calmly sank both free throws. Following an Oakland miss, Wright State effectively managed the clock and forced the Golden Grizzlies into foul situations. The Raiders sealed the game at the line, making their final six free throws to prevent the comeback from being completed. Despite being outscored by 24 points in the second half and losing the turnover battle decisively, Wright State’s colossal first-half advantage proved insurmountable. The Raiders’ early work in the paint, led by Pickett and Pangonis (13 points), established the necessary cushion. Oakland’s Tuburu Naivalurua posted 15 points, and Brett White added 11, but the team’s early struggles were too deep to fully overcome. The result defied the pregame projections, as Oakland had been installed as a 4.5-point favorite by oddsmakers and statistical models gave the Golden Grizzlies a 78% probability of victory. The combined score of 178 points sailed over the pregame over/under line of 159.5. With the win, Wright State sweeps the regular-season series after defeating Oakland 88-73 on Dec. 29. The Raiders now look ahead to a home contest against Youngstown State on Thursday. Oakland, which saw a three-game winning streak snapped, will travel to face Milwaukee on Thursday.

Preview: Wright State Raiders at Oakland Golden Grizzlies AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (Interstat) — Horizon League rivals Wright State and Oakland meet Sunday at the Athletics Center O’rena in a matchup of teams looking to build momentum in conference play. The Raiders (9-7, 3-1 Horizon) visit the Golden Grizzlies (8-8, 2-2) in a rematch of a game played just two weeks ago. Wright State won that Dec. 29 meeting decisively, 88-73, behind 17 points and four assists from guard TJ Burch. Burch enters this contest as Wright State’s player to watch, averaging 16.3 points over his last three games. He scored 19 points in the Raiders’ most recent outing, an 81-77 road win at IU Indy on Jan. 4. Oakland counters with forward Isaac Garrett, who is coming off a spectacular two-game stretch. After being held to six points in the loss at Wright State, Garrett responded with 27 points and 14 rebounds in a win at Youngstown State on Jan. 1, followed by a 30-point, six-rebound performance in a 96-73 rout of Robert Morris on Jan. 4. Both teams are trending upward. Wright State has won four of its last five games. Oakland has won two straight after its three-game skid, which included the loss to the Raiders. The game could hinge on which star’s recent surge continues. Burch provides backcourt scoring and playmaking for a balanced Wright State attack that saw Michael Imariagbe also score 19 points against IU Indy. Garrett’s interior presence and scoring burst have keyed Oakland’s offensive resurgence, which saw the team put up 96 points last time out. Defensively, Wright State will aim to contain Garrett more effectively than it did Oakland’s Tuburu Naivalurua, who had 21 points in the first meeting. Oakland must find an answer for Burch and improve its perimeter defense after allowing the Raiders to shoot 50.8% from the field in December. With both teams near .500 overall, this early-January conference clash carries weight for positioning in the Horizon League standings. Tip-off is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026.