Welage Shines, but Wright State Falls Short in Battle Against Indiana

In a hard-fought contest on Thursday night, Indiana native Andrew Welage delivered a stellar performance, notching a career-high 25 points for the Wright State men's basketball team. Despite Welage's standout performance, the Raiders ultimately fell short against Indiana, with a final score of 89-80.

Welage showcased his scoring prowess, shooting 8-of-13 from the field, including an impressive 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. His 25 points, along with his overall shooting and three-point accuracy, marked new career-bests. Welage's remarkable contribution stood out as the game-high on both sides.

Joining Welage in the offensive effort, Tanner Holden added 24 points, reaching the 20-plus point mark for the 27th time in his tenure as a Raider. Alex Huibregtse also made a significant impact, contributing 15 points, including three successful three-pointers. Together, Welage, Holden, and Huibregtse displayed an efficient shooting performance, combining for a 51 percent field goal percentage (21-of-41) and knocking down 11 of their 17 three-point attempts.

Drey Carter provided a valuable boost off the bench, chipping in six points on a perfect 3-of-3 shooting. AJ Braun and Brandon Noel each contributed four points, while Kaden Brown added a basket to round out the scoring efforts. Noel and Holden stood out on the boards, each grabbing eight rebounds, and Braun pulled down seven, helping the Raiders secure a 40-37 rebounding edge overall and a 14-8 advantage on the offensive glass.

Despite the Raiders' resilient efforts, Indiana took control early in the game, establishing a lead that extended to 15 points midway through the first half. However, Wright State closed the gap by the end of the first half, trailing 54-49.

The second half saw a persistent Wright State team, narrowing the margin to five points with just under eight minutes to play. Indiana responded with a decisive run, pushing the lead back to double digits with 4:17 remaining, securing enough cushion to withstand the Raiders' late surge.

Wright State displayed solid shooting percentages, hitting 47 percent in the first half and finishing the game at 41 percent overall (28-of-68) from the field. Their three-point shooting was equally impressive at 42 percent (11-of-26). The team was efficient from the free-throw line, making 77 percent of their attempts, including a notable 10-of-11 in the first half.

Indiana, on the other hand, connected at a 67 percent clip in the first half but saw a dip in their shooting percentage to 54 percent (33-of-61) by the end of the game. Their three-point shooting struggled, managing only 19 percent (3-of-16), including missing all eight attempts in the second half. The hosts found success at the free-throw line, making 63 percent of their attempts (20-of-32).

As Wright State gears up for MTE tournament action in Florida, this hard-fought battle against Indiana serves as a testament to their resilience and the scoring prowess of players like Andrew Welage, providing optimism for the challenges ahead. The Raiders will look to build on this experience as they face upcoming contests at the Gulf Coast Showcase.

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