VIDEO: Postgame Press Conference
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Charlie Lee scored 16 points and Anton Grady had a double-double of 10 points and 13 rebounds, but Wright State shot 55-percent from the field to earn a 68-63 win over Cleveland State in the semifinals of the Horizon League tournament on Saturday at the Resch Center.
The Vikings fell to 21-11, while the Raiders moved to 20-13 and advance to Tuesday's title game against the winner of tonight's second semifinal between Green Bay and Milwaukee.
Lee added four assists, while Trey Lewis scored 14 points with three assists.
WSU took a quick 7-1 lead, but 11 straight points by CSU gave the Vikings a 12-7 lead after two Lee free throws at the 11:19 mark. The Raiders used a 9-2 spurt to regain a two point lead (16-14) with 8:51 to go in the half, but six straight points by the Vikings allowed CSU to take a 20-16 lead.
The rest of the half was back and forth with a Trey Lewis three-pointer giving CSU a 29-28 lead with 2:26 to play. However, the Raiders closed the half on a 9-2 run to take a 37-31 lead at the intermission.
It was a lead the Raiders would hold until Sebastian Douglas made a steal and converted a breakaway layup to give CSU a 50-49 advantage with eight minutes left. But the Raiders would respond, scoring nine of the next 12 points – capped by a Reggie Arceneaux jumper that gave WSU a 58-53 lead with just over four minutes left.
CSU would get the deficit back to three points twice, the final time after two Forbes free throws with 2:43 left, but a Matt Vest three-pointer from the corner with two minutes left gave the Raiders a 63-57 lead and WSU held on for the win with free throws down the stretch.
The Vikings will now await word on a postseason tournament invitation.