VIDEO: Highlights
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cleveland State used a strong second half, shooting 82-percent (23-28) from the field over the final 20 minutes, and claimed an 84-57 victory over Milwaukee in the Horizon League opener for both teams on Friday night in the Wolstein Center.
The Vikings moved to 7-8 and 1-0 in the league, while Milwaukee fell to 5-10 overall (0-1 HL).
Trey Lewis led the Vikings with 27 points and four assists. It was his 10th career 20-point game, including his fifth this year. Anton Grady finished with 18 points, eight rebounds and two steals, while Charlie Lee had 16 points and three assists.
The Viking bench was also effective, totaling 17 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and four steals as a unit.
Matt Tiby and Steve McWhorter scored 16 points each to lead the Panthers.
CSU scored 52 points in the paint and committed a season-low five turnovers, tied for the second fewest in a game in school history.
The Panthers took an early 7-2 lead six minutes in, but a 9-2 CSU run helped the Vikings take their first lead of the night (11-9) on a Lewis layup at the 10:52 mark.
A Grady jumper gave the Vikings a 21-18 lead, their largest of the first half, with six minutes left in the first half. However, Milwaukee used a pair of three pointers and four free throws in a 10-0 run that gave the Panthers their largest lead of the half (28-21) with 3:47 left.
A 6-2 spurt to end the half brought the Vikings within three (30-27) at halftime. CSU carried that momentum right over to the second half, scoring the first seven points of the half to take a 34-30 lead. Five straight from the Panthers gave them a one point advantage (35-34) and the teams would continue to trade baskets over the next four minutes.
A pair of Panther free throws game Milwaukee a 43-42 lead at the 13:41 mark, but it was all CSU from there as the Vikings hit 17 of their final 19 shots to cruise to the win.
The Viking defense was equally impressive over the same stretch, holding Milwaukee to just 3-of-14 from the field over the final 13-plus minutes.
CSU shot a season-high .576 (34-59) from the field.
The Vikings are back in action on Sunday (Jan. 4) when CSU travels to UIC for a 4:00 p.m. EST contest. The game will be broadcast live on SportsTime Ohio and on the radio at AM 1420 WHK.
