Cleveland State Vikings vs Wright State Raiders Picks and Predictions for Wednesday March 4 2026
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The Cleveland State Vikings face the Wright State Raiders in the Barbasol Horizon League Championship First Round on Wednesday night at the Nutter Center in Dayton, Ohio. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET with television coverage on ESPN+. Wright State enters the matchup as a 13.5-point favorite, while the total is set at 161.5 points. For more analysis on today’s college basketball slate, be sure to check out our free college basketball picks.
Cleveland State Enters Tournament After Play-In Shootout
Cleveland State comes into the Horizon League tournament with an 11-21 overall record and a 6-14 conference mark. The Vikings advanced to this first-round matchup after recently winning over IU Indianapolis 101-93 in the play-in round. Over their last five games, Cleveland State has recently won over IU Indianapolis while recently losing to Robert Morris, Northern Kentucky, Purdue Fort Wayne, and Youngstown State.
From a statistical standpoint, Cleveland State has been one of the more extreme offensive teams in the conference. The Vikings average 80.4 points per game, but they also allow 85.8 points per game, which is one of the highest defensive marks in the Horizon League. Cleveland State shoots 46% from the field, averages 32.8 rebounds and 15.8 assists per game, and generates 5.6 steals and 2.8 blocks on the defensive end.
In the play-in victory, Preist Ryan dominated the game with 23 points and 12 rebounds, leading Cleveland State in both scoring and rebounding while helping the Vikings shoot an impressive 63% from the field. That offensive explosion helped Cleveland State advance, but the Vikings now face a tougher challenge on a short turnaround against a Wright State team that already defeated them earlier in the season.
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Wright State Opens Tournament at Home with Momentum
Wright State enters the tournament with a 20-11 overall record and a strong 15-5 conference record, which allowed the Raiders to avoid the play-in game and enter directly into the first round. Over their last five games, Wright State has recently won over Northern Kentucky, Purdue Fort Wayne, and IU Indianapolis while recently losing to Robert Morris.
Offensively, Wright State has been one of the most efficient teams in the Horizon League. The Raiders average 80.2 points per game while allowing 73.6 points per contest. They shoot a strong 49% from the field, average 35.1 rebounds and 13.7 assists per game, and also contribute 7.5 steals and 4.4 blocks per contest, giving them a solid balance between offense and defense.
In their most recent win over Northern Kentucky, Kellen Pickett led the Raiders with 19 points, while Michael Imariagbe dominated the glass with 16 rebounds, including eight offensive boards. Wright State also shot 56% from the field and 50% from three-point range in that win, highlighting the offensive efficiency that has made them one of the top teams in the conference heading into tournament play.
Cleveland State Vikings vs Wright State Raiders Pick
Cleveland State Vikings vs Wright State Raiders Spread Pick
- Pick: Wright State -13.5
Wright State has multiple advantages heading into this game, including the rest edge, the home court at the Nutter Center, and significantly stronger defensive numbers. Cleveland State played a high-paced, high-scoring game in the play-in round and now has to turn around quickly against one of the better offensive teams in the conference. With Wright State already defeating Cleveland State earlier this season and owning the rebounding edge, the Raiders should be able to pull away in the second half.
Cleveland State Vikings vs Wright State Raiders Total Pick
- Pick: Over 161.5
I like the over in this game because Cleveland State games tend to turn into track meets. The Vikings average over 80 points per game but allow nearly 86, which leads to extremely high-scoring contests. Wright State also averages over 80 points per game and showed in their last outing that they can score efficiently. With Cleveland State pushing the tempo and Wright State capable of capitalizing on defensive gaps, I expect a fast-paced game that gets into the mid-to-high 80s for at least one team.
Final Score Prediction: Wright State 88, Cleveland State 76
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