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DAYTON, Ohio - Add this one to the close but no cigar column, which has been a recurring theme for the 2017-18 IUPUI men's basketball program. The Jaguars played a solid second half and nearly battled back from a double-digit hole, but ultimately fell at Wright State, 60-52 on Saturday afternoon (Dec. 30). Freshman Jaylen Minnett and senior Ron Patterson nearly shot the Jaguars back to a Horizon League road win, but WSU (10-5, 2-0 HL) made enough plays down the stretch to stave off IUPUI.

Minnett scored all 11 of his points in the second half and Patterson, who didn't attempt a first half shot, closed with 10 second half points. Grant Benzinger paced WSU with 16 points, including 4-of-7 from deep, and Justin Mitchell closed with 11 points, 13 rebounds and four assists against eight turnovers. 

IUPUI (3-10, 0-2 HL) closed within three at 51-48 with 2:57 left when T.J. Henderson scored in close. However, WSU freshman Jaylon Hall delivered a dagger, rattling in a corner three in front of his own bench to push the lead back to six. IUPUI turned it over on the ensuing possession and WSU's Cole Gentry was fouled at the other end, resulting in two made free throws. The Jaguars' answered with a Patterson trey and got a defensive stop, but a 17th and final turnover helped the host Raiders improve to 2-0 to start league play. 

The loss was the Jaguars' third of the year in which it was a one-possession game in the closing minutes. 

The Jaguars shot just 35 percent from the floor and 7-of-23 (30.4 percent) from distance while Wright State made 43.1 percent overall. The Raiders outrebounded IUPUI 38-29 to help offset a 20-turnover afternoon.

"We put ourselves in a position to win the game, but just didn't make enough plays down the stretch," head coach Jason Gardner said. "You've got to make plays to win on the road and unfortunately, we didn't do enough in the final few minutes. 

"I thought all nine guys that played, battled hard and left it all out there today. Our effort and intensity were there and that's promising. There's no quit in this team. For this being a completely new environment and presenting new challenges, I'm proud of the way we fought today."

For the second straight game, the Jaguars got the start they wanted, building a quick 10-4 lead behind treys from Brennan and Rogers. However, like at NKU, a long first half scoring lull eliminated the start and had the Jaguars playing uphill from there. IUPUI regained a 14-13 lead on an Elyjah Goss tip-in, but wouldn't score again for nearly eight minutes. 

After IUPUI built the early 10-4 lead, the Raiders outscored IUPUI 18-4 and ultimately took a 26-19 lead to the locker room. Twelve turnovers and just 29 percent shooting before the break contributed to the first half woes. 

IUPUI turned it over just five times in the second half, but tied it's season-low with just 18 points in the paint. 

Senior Aaron Brennan added seven points and four boards and both Henderson and Nick Rogers closed with six points. 

IUPUI will continue the string of three straight road games to open Horizon League play on Tuesday night (Jan. 2) when the Jaguars trek north to Green Bay. That game will tip at 8:00 p.m. Eastern inside the Resch Center and be available on ESPN3. In addition, the game will be heard on iHeartRadio and Fox Sports 97.5 FM as Sam Rumpza (pxp) is on the call.