Tevonn Walker was frustrated for much of Friday night’s game. Part of that frustration included absorbing a blow to the face.
The junior guard answered by taking over late in Valparaiso’s 70-55 Horizon League victory over Wright State at the Athletics-Recreation Center.
Walker scored nine straight points for the Crusaders in a span of 1:34. Valparaiso (17-4, 7-1) led by as many as 21 before the Raiders (14-8, 5-4) drew as close as 60-53 with 2:59 left.
Walker’s three-point play with 1:32 left capped his personal spurt, giving him 12 points in the game and opening a 67-55 lead for the Crusaders. Shane Hammink, who had 15 points, added a 3-pointer.
The scrappy nature of the game stirred Walker.
“It was a reaction,” Walker said. “It just fueled it.”
After becoming Valparaiso’s career leader in scoring and rebounding in the last two games, Alec Peters didn’t slow down against Wright State. The senior star notched his 14th double-double with 25 points and 14 rebounds and matched his season high with four assists.
Before the game, Crusaders coach Matt Lottich led a ceremony to recognize Peters for those achievements. A video tribute played at halftime. By then, Peters had 17 points and eight rebounds.
Peters shot 10-for-11 from the foul line and needs five free throws to break Ed Eckart’s career record of 452 from 1953-57.
First-year Wright State coach Scott Nagy, during his 21-season tenure at South Dakota State, actually offered Peters a scholarship.
“He’s just a tough matchup because he can play inside and outside,” Nagy said. “There are very few kids who have the ability to do both.”
The Crusaders were concerned about the Raiders’ “small ball” approach, but Wright State shot 3-for-28 from 3-point range and finished at 33.8 percent (23-for-68).
The Raiders missed their first 18 3-point attempts before Steven Davis converted with 7:08 left.
More Top Picks Smartwatches
“The coaches talked about contesting out on all threes,” Walker said. “That was a part big of their offense.”
Hammink hit back-to-back 3-pointers with 8:51 left in the first half to give the Crusaders a 28-11 lead. They led by as much as 56-35 with 9:14 left before the Raiders made consecutive 3-pointers to draw within 58-50 with 4:02 left.
But Valparaiso persevered.
“The game got very physical and we responded to it,” Lottich said. “I told the guys in the locker room, way to keep your heads when I was about to lose mine.
“The guys kept battling.”
Nagy liked that his team didn’t quit in second half, but lamented a poor start.
“In the first half, physically, they beat us up on both ends and we didn’t respond,” Nagy said. “You can’t be soft.”
The Crusaders play Northern Kentucky (14-8, 5-4) on Sunday at the ARC after beating Wright State, which swept Valparaiso last season.
“We talked about it, mentioned it,” Peters said. “Any time you play a game, you try to find a little extra motivation.”
Twitter @MichaelOsipoff