Wright State defeats IU Indianapolis 85-73 in Fairborn as TJ Burch leads balanced Raiders scoring
Raiders hold off Jaguars in Horizon League meeting at the Nutter Center
Wright State defeated IU Indianapolis 85-73 on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, at the Ervin J. Nutter Center in Fairborn, Ohio, tightening its grip near the top of the Horizon League standings while IU Indianapolis continued to search for consistency late in the regular season.
The Raiders improved to 18-10 overall and 13-4 in conference play. The Jaguars fell to 7-22 overall and 3-15 in the Horizon League. At halftime, Wright State led 40-36 and extended the margin by outscoring IU Indianapolis 45-37 after the break.
Key performances and how the game tilted
TJ Burch led Wright State with 23 points and added three steals, giving the Raiders scoring punch and pressure defense. Michael Imariagbe scored 19 points on efficient shooting and drew contact throughout the night, converting 7 of 7 at the free-throw line. Dominic Pangonis added 14 points, helping Wright State maintain a multi-pronged offense that limited the defensive burden on any one player.
IU Indianapolis was paced by Kyler D’Augustino with 20 points and two steals. Maguire Mitchell contributed 13 points and two steals, and Finley Woodward added 12 points and five assists. Despite those contributions, the Jaguars did not erase the second-half gap after Wright State pushed the lead beyond a one-possession game.
Halftime: Wright State 40, IU Indianapolis 36
Final: Wright State 85, IU Indianapolis 73
Top scorer: TJ Burch (Wright State), 23 points
What it means in the Horizon League race
With the calendar nearing the end of conference play, Wright State’s 13th league win reinforced a profile built on offensive production and depth. The Raiders’ ability to place three players in double figures and generate steals from the perimeter aligned with a formula that has translated into a strong league record, particularly at home.
For IU Indianapolis, the result underscored the narrow margins the Jaguars have faced against upper-tier conference opponents. The team received a full scoring night from its primary options, but the final eight-point swing between halves proved decisive, leaving too much ground to make up in the closing stretches.
Final score: Wright State 85, IU Indianapolis 73 (Feb. 19, 2026).
Series context within the 2025-26 season
The Feb. 19 meeting came after an earlier men’s matchup on Jan. 4, 2026, when Wright State won 81-77 at IU Indianapolis. Taken together, the season series reflected Wright State’s ability to manage IU Indianapolis’ perimeter-led scoring while producing enough offense to control game tempo over 40 minutes.
Both programs now turn to their remaining conference schedules with postseason positioning at stake: Wright State aiming to secure a favorable bracket path in the Horizon League tournament, and IU Indianapolis seeking late-season traction to carry into March.