National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Valparaiso 62, Wright St. 54
When: 9:00 PM ET, Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Where: Athletics-Recreation Center, Valparaiso, Indiana
Officials: # Joe DeRosa, # Peter Juzenas, # Bert Smith
Attendance: 4457

Valparaiso 62, Wright State 54:
Erik Buggs scored a career-high 22 points as the host Crusaders used a 16-0 run in the closing minutes to win the Horizon League championship game and advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004.

Buggs finished 9-of-13 as top-seeded Valparaiso (26-7) answered an 18-4 Raiders' run by holding third-seeded Wright State (21-12) scoreless over 5:29 of the final 5:42. Will Bogan added 14 points while Kevin Van Wijk had 10 points and a game-high 10 rebounds for the Crusaders, who overcame 14 second-half turnovers.

Reggie Arceneaux led the Raiders with 14 points. Wright State came back from a 36-25 halftime deficit to take the lead despite shooting 27.3 percent from 3-point range.

Arceneaux scored five points in Wright State’s 18-4 run as the Raiders took a 50-44 lead with 5:42 to go. After Van Wijk and Buggs made layups, Buggs went 3-for-4 at the foul line to give the Crusaders a 51-50 lead.

Ryan Broekhoff, whose buzzer-beating 3-pointer gave Valparaiso a 70-69 semifinal win over Green Bay, made another big 3 before Buggs and Matt Kennedy combined to make six consecutive free throws to push the cushion to 60-50 with 15 seconds left. Tavares Sledge ended the drought, making a layup with 13 seconds left.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Buggs’ previous career high was 15 points, coming against Kent State on Nov. 8. … Broekhoff was 0-for-5 from beyond the arc before the late 3-pointer. ... The Crusaders’ 26 wins set a program record.
Top Game Performances
 
Wright St.   Valparaiso
Reggie Arceneaux 14 Scoring Erik Buggs 22
Kendall Griffin 2 Assists Ryan Broekhoff 3
Joe Bramanti 4 Rebounds Kevin Van Wijk 10
Miles Dixon 2 Free Throws Made Will Bogan 4
Reggie Arceneaux 3 Steals Erik Buggs 4
Matt Vest 1 Blocks Kevin Van Wijk 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Wright St. 54 38.9 3-11 9-13 8 21 2 14 12
Valparaiso 62 53.8 4-14 16-21 9 25 4 8 25