Cleveland State Upsets Wright State in Thrilling Finish
Wednesday, January 21, 2026, 7:00 PM ET · Nutter Center
Cleveland State Vikings 85, Wright State Raiders 79, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Cleveland State Vikings vs Wright State Raiders?
Cleveland State Vikings beat Wright State Raiders 85-79 at Nutter Center on January 21, 2026.
Who was favored in Cleveland State Vikings vs Wright State Raiders?
Wright State Raiders were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -1600 (about 94% implied). The underdog won.
In a surprising turn of events, the Cleveland State Vikings defeated the Wright State Raiders 85-79 in a thrilling matchup at the Nutter Center. This game was particularly noteworthy as it showcased the Vikings' resilience against a Wright State team that had been on a seven-game winning streak and had a strong home record of 12-8 prior to this contest.
Wright State entered the game with impressive recent form, boasting an 8-2 record over their last ten outings, and they had averaged 82.2 points while allowing 75.0 points per game. Their last five games had seen them score an average of 85.6 points, further emphasizing their offensive prowess. In contrast, Cleveland State had struggled with a 3-7 record in their last ten games, averaging 78.4 points while allowing 82.2 points. Their recent performance had been even more concerning, as they had only won one of their last five games, averaging 76.4 points and conceding 86.2 points during that stretch.
The Vikings' victory was particularly impressive given their away record of 0-4 prior to this game, highlighting the significance of their performance in hostile territory. Their previous meeting in the current season had seen Cleveland State lose to Wright State 78-64, making this win a notable turnaround.
In terms of individual performances, Dayan Nessah was pivotal for Cleveland State, contributing crucial points in the second half, including a layup that tied the game at 79-79. The Vikings capitalized on their momentum, with Nessah also making free throws that helped secure the lead. TJ Burch was another key player for Cleveland State, scoring a tip-in layup and converting free throws that kept the pressure on Wright State.
The game was tightly contested throughout, and the final moments were particularly intense as both teams exchanged leads. The scoring plays in the second half highlighted the back-and-forth nature of the contest, with Cleveland State making critical plays that ultimately led to their victory.
From a betting perspective, DraftKings had set the spread at -15.5 in favor of Wright State, indicating that they were heavily favored to win. The total for the game was set at 156.5, with odds of -115.0 for the over and -105.0 for the under. This context added an extra layer of intrigue to the matchup, as the outcome defied expectations.
The conditions at the Nutter Center were conducive to an exciting game, and the atmosphere was charged as fans witnessed the underdog Vikings pull off a remarkable upset. As the game progressed, viewers were treated to a display of skill and determination from both teams, but it was Cleveland State that emerged victorious against the odds.
Overall, this game will be remembered not only for the upset but also for the implications it holds for both teams moving forward in the season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | WRST -15.5 | 156.5 o -115 / u -105 | Cleveland State Vikings +900 · Wright State Raiders -1600 |
Leaders
- PointsMichael Cooper14Wright State Raiders
- AssistsMichael Imariagbe5Wright State Raiders
- ReboundsMichael Imariagbe9Wright State Raiders
- PointsDayan Nessah31Cleveland State Vikings
- AssistsDayan Nessah5Cleveland State Vikings
- ReboundsDayan Nessah10Cleveland State Vikings
Recent form
Wright State Raiders
Last 10: 8-2Streak W782.2 scored · 75 allowed per game5-1 at home
- W93-83vs Youngstown State PenguinsJan 16
- W94-84at Oakland Golden GrizzliesJan 11
- W84-82at Detroit Mercy TitansJan 10
- W81-77at IU Indianapolis JaguarsJan 4
- W76-70vs Milwaukee PanthersJan 1
- W88-73vs Oakland Golden GrizzliesDec 30
- W70-64vs Eastern Michigan EaglesDec 23
- L76-83vs Miami (OH) RedHawksDec 17
- L74-76at Marshall Thundering HerdDec 13
- W86-58vs Green Bay PhoenixDec 7
Cleveland State Vikings
Last 10: 3-7Streak W178.4 scored · 82.2 allowed per game0-4 away
- W80-78vs Youngstown State PenguinsJan 17
- L73-88vs Green Bay PhoenixJan 16
- L84-94at Detroit Mercy TitansJan 11
- L74-97at Oakland Golden GrizzliesJan 10
- L71-74at Purdue Fort Wayne MastodonsJan 4
- W99-86vs IU Indianapolis JaguarsDec 30
- L71-81vs Milwaukee PanthersDec 21
- L77-101at UAB BlazersDec 18
- W96-52vs Oakland City Mighty OaksDec 14
- L59-71vs Detroit Mercy TitansDec 6
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wright State | 23-12 | - | 15-5 |
| Robert Morris | 22-11 | 2 | 13-7 |
| Green Bay | 18-15 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Detroit Mercy | 17-15 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Oakland | 16-16 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Purdue Fort Wayne | 17-15 | 4 | 11-9 |
| Northern Kentucky | 20-14 | 5 | 10-10 |
| Youngstown State | 15-17 | 7 | 8-12 |
| Milwaukee | 12-20 | 7 | 8-12 |
| Cleveland State | 11-22 | 9 | 6-14 |
| IU Indianapolis | 7-25 | 12 | 3-17 |
Box score
| Stat | Cleveland State Vikings | Wright State Raiders |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 27-53 | 31-66 |
| Field goal % | 51 | 47 |
| Three-pointers | 11-23 | 5-24 |
| Three-point % | 48 | 21 |
| Free throws | 20-22 | 12-18 |
| Free throw % | 91 | 67 |
| Rebounds | 32 | 35 |
| Offensive rebounds | 4 | 12 |
| Defensive rebounds | 28 | 23 |
| Assists | 16 | 13 |
| Steals | 4 | 3 |
| Blocks | 5 | 6 |
| Turnovers | 9 | 7 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 1 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 10 | 13 |
| Fast-break points | 8 | 8 |
| Points in the paint | 32 | 50 |
| Fouls | 20 | 19 |
| Largest lead | 10 | 8 |
| Lead changes | 7 | 7 |
| Time in front | 33 | 55 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half47-52Logan Woods makes 5-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half47-55Solomon Callaghan makes 27-foot three point jumper (Michael Imariagbe assists)
- 2nd Half49-55Chevalier Emery makes driving layup (Dayan Nessah assists)
- 2nd Half49-57Michael Imariagbe makes layup (Kellen Pickett assists)
- 2nd Half52-57Tre Beard makes 23-foot three point jumper (Dayan Nessah assists)
- 2nd Half53-57Jaidon Lipscomb makes free throw 1 of 3
- 2nd Half54-57Jaidon Lipscomb makes free throw 2 of 3
- 2nd Half55-57Jaidon Lipscomb makes free throw 3 of 3
- 2nd Half55-59Michael Cooper makes 5-foot jumper
- 2nd Half55-61Dominic Pangonis makes layup (TJ Burch assists)
- 2nd Half57-61Dayan Nessah makes layup (Tre Beard assists)
- 2nd Half57-63Kellen Pickett makes layup
- 2nd Half60-63Jaidon Lipscomb makes 25-foot three point jumper (Dayan Nessah assists)
- 2nd Half61-63Dayan Nessah makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half62-63Dayan Nessah makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half62-64Michael Imariagbe makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half62-65Michael Imariagbe makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half64-65Dayan Nessah makes layup
- 2nd Half65-65Dayan Nessah makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half65-67Michael Cooper makes layup (Michael Imariagbe assists)
- 2nd Half65-68Michael Cooper makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half68-68Chevalier Emery makes 26-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half70-68Dayan Nessah makes layup (Jaidon Lipscomb assists)
- 2nd Half73-68Jaidon Lipscomb makes 23-foot three point jumper (Chevalier Emery assists)
- 2nd Half73-70TJ Burch makes 5-foot jumper (Michael Imariagbe assists)
- 2nd Half73-72TJ Burch makes layup
- 2nd Half75-72Tre Beard makes 15-foot jumper
- 2nd Half75-73Solomon Callaghan makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half75-74Solomon Callaghan makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half76-74Dayan Nessah makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half77-74Dayan Nessah makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half77-76Michael Imariagbe makes layup
- 2nd Half77-78TJ Burch makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half77-79TJ Burch makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half79-79Dayan Nessah makes layup
- 2nd Half80-79Dayan Nessah makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half82-79Dayan Nessah makes layup
- 2nd Half83-79Tre Beard makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half84-79Tre Beard makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half85-79Dayan Nessah makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Wright State Raiders, below favours Cleveland State Vikings.
Venue
- Nutter CenterDayton, OH
- Attendance3630
- OfficialsAmy Bonner, Jim Bruno, Randy Richardson
Elsewhere
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- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond