Nobody believed we could do this, so we have to keep going and make things happen in the (NCAA) tournament. Well see where we go on Selection Sunday.

New head coach Brad Brownell lead the Wright State Raiders to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1993 by beating Butler University, 60-55, March 7.

The Raiders were picked to finish forth in the pre-season Horizon League coaches poll but surprised the entire league by finishing first at the end of the season, and hosting the Horizon League tournament. Wright State shot 45 percent from behind the arch to earn the automatic bid.

Nobody believed we could do this, so we have to keep going and make things happen in the (NCAA) tournament. Well see where we go on Selection Sunday, said Wright State guard DaShaun Wood.

Butler looks to receive an at-large bid after being ranked as high as No. 9 nationally and currently No. 19. Butler won the pre-season NIT, after being picked to finish sixth in the pre-season Horizon League coached poll.

Wood scored 27 points, 18 points in the first half, after having a 25-point game in the semi-finals against UW-Green Bay.

Butlers guard A.J. Graves, who averaged 17.1 points per game this season, only contributed 12 in the Bulldog loss, while Brandon Crone had a team high 18 points for the Bulldogs.

The Nutter Center seems to be a curse for the Bulldogs. Not only does Butler have no scoreboard to look at, because the arena is originally made for hockey games, but Graves was 3-of-25 on three-point baskets at the Nutter coming into the game. He made only two of nine in the championship game, including the last Bulldog shot.

Butler came into the game having lost six of its last seven at the Nutter Center.

Butler started off with a quick 10-point lead until Wood hit a big three to start the Raider comeback, which dramatically led to Wood hitting another three to tie the game at 12 with 14:15 remaining in the first half.

Wright State took its biggest lead of the half with 3:14 left when Scotty Wilson set up Wood for a quick lay-up to put the Raiders up by six. Graves and Butler newcomer Mike Green combined for five points in the last minute to pull within two at the half, 29-31.

Scotty Wilson picked up the Raiders slack in the second half, while Wood went almost 12 minutes without scoring Wilson hit two critical threes to keep the lead. Butler did not lead until 5:26 left in the second.

With the game tied at 52, Graves drove the lane but was blocked by Wood on a lay-up attempt with 1:26 left. Wood took the ball down court and hit a huge three-point basket to take the lead. With 1:06 left, Butlers Crone laid up an inbound to get within one.

Butler and Wright State called two timeouts back to back, with only two seconds ticking off the game clock in between all four. Neither team had a timeout in the final 25 seconds.

Both teams committed a foul and each hit one free throw when Raiders freshman Will Graham was fouled with 11.6 seconds left. Graham finished with five free throws, his only points, which all came in the last 11.6 seconds.

After Graham hit both free throws, Graves drove down court dribbling through two picks, and taking a desperation three, but missing short.

I was just trying to push the ball up and see what the best shot was that we could get, because I knew we needed a three and I knew we didnt have any timeouts left, Graves said.

Graham was fouled again, hitting both free throws with 1.6 seconds left. It would be only a matter of seconds before there was a sea of gold and green celebrating at mid-court.

Our kids believed all along that we could win this game and that we were going to play well. We just didnt know what it was going to come down to. In every huddle we told them to relax, stay calm, play the next play and fortunately Will (Graham) stepped up and made some big free throws, said Wright State head coach Brad Brownell.

According to the predictions of ESPNs Joe Lunardi, Wright State will be a 13 seed in the tournament while Butler is picked as a six seed.

UWM Post staff writer Mike Kennedy predicts Wright State will be a 13 seed, but Butler will be a seven seed.

NCAA Tournament seeds were revealed on Sunday, March 11.

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