VIDEO: Highlights
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Demonte Flannigan scored a career-high 25 points and posted his third double-double of the year with 10 rebounds, but Detroit hit 10 three-pointers to claim a 71-63 victory over Cleveland State on Thursday night in the Wolstein Center.
Flannigan hit 11-of-15 from the field overall, bettering his old career-high of 22 points against Malone earlier this year. He also had three blocks and a steal.
Vinny Zollo also finished with a career-high, scoring 16 points and adding five rebounds, while Rob Edwards scored seven points and Nelson Maxwell added five steals.
Chris Jenkins led Detroit with 20 points, hitting 6-of-8 from three-point, and Paris Bass grabbed 17 rebounds.
Flannigan scored 19 of his points in the first half, hitting 9-of-12 from the field as the Vikings went into the locker room down, 33-31. With the game tied at 36-36 early in the second half, the Titans broke the game open with a 15-2 run, taking a 51-38 lead on back-to-back three-pointers from Jenkins.
CSU still trailed by 12 points (68-56) with 2:31 left and used a 7-1 run to slice the deficit to six points (69-63) with 12 seconds left, but after a Detroit turnover on the inbounds pass, the Vikings were unable to score and the Titans hit two free throws with four seconds left.
The Vikings return to action on Saturday (Feb. 6) when CSU hosts Oakland at 1:00 pm. It will be a doubleheader with the CSU women hosting Oakland at 3:00 pm.
Former CSU standouts Norris Cole and Kailey Klein will both have their numbers retired on Saturday. Cole's number 30 will be retired in a ceremony before the men's game, while Klein's number 23 will be raised to the rafters at halftime of the men's game.
In addition, the first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive a Norris Cole bobblehead and 250 lucky fans will receive a replica Klein jersey during the women's game.