Wright State’s men’s basketball team returned to the court Friday night and wasted no time making an impression, opening the game with a 14-0 run on the way to a 76-54 exhibition win over the Bellarmine Knights at the Nutter Center in Dayton. The Raiders did not allow Bellarmine its first points until that opening surge was complete, and they controlled the game from there.
The lead grew as large as 29 points as Wright State showed success on both ends of the floor. The Raiders recorded several major blocks to go with their scoring, turning defensive stops into transition chances and keeping the Knights from ever mounting a serious comeback in the second half.
Returning junior Andrea Holden was a key player on both ends of the court, contributing offensively while helping anchor the defense that held Bellarmine to 54 points. Junior Dominic Pangoins knocked down multiple three-pointers, and junior Ilija Milijasevic added significant plays of his own as the Raiders spread the contributions across the lineup.
Exhibitions are built for exactly that kind of evaluation. With the regular season still ahead, the coaching staff got extended looks at its returning juniors in game conditions, tested rotations against a Division I opponent, and still came away with a 22-point margin — a useful early measuring stick for a roster that will be asked to carry the program this winter.
The game also served as an unofficial opening night for the home crowd at the Nutter Center, Wright State’s longtime home arena in Fairborn, just outside Dayton. Fans got their first look at this year’s Raiders in person, and the one-sided result sent them home with an early sense of what the team hopes to be: fast at the start, active on defense and balanced in scoring.
Wright State will be back at the Nutter Center on Monday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m., when the Raiders host the Air Force Falcons in the Stars, Stripes and Flight Classic. That game, not the exhibition, is where the results start counting, and Friday’s performance gives the Raiders a confident base to build on over the next two weeks of practice.
The university is also using the new season to pull more young fans into its arenas. Its Rising Raiders program offers free admission to regular-season home events for students currently enrolled in 12th grade or younger, encouraging school and club players to wear their team gear and experience Division I athletics firsthand. For families across the Dayton region, the Raiders are betting that an early, accessible first impression can turn into a lasting connection with the program.