VIDEO: Highlights
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Demonte Flannigan recorded his second double-double in as many games, but Oakland used four players in double figures to claim a 67-57 victory over Cleveland State on Saturday afternoon.
Flannigan tallied 19 points and 12 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season. Kenny Carpenter added 13 points, while Rob Edwards and Vinny Zollo scored eight points apiece.
Jalen Hayes led Oakland with 15 points and 14 rebounds, while Kay Felder posted 13 points and 11 assists. Percy Gibson and Martez Walker scored 14 points each.
"This was a tough one today," head coach Gary Waters said. "They really wanted to win this one with all the festivities we had today. But we didn't shoot the ball well and that hurts, especially against a team like Oakland.
"I told our guys if we can keep the game in the 60's, take care of the ball and limit them in transition, we would have a chance and I thought we did that. They followed the game play, defended them well, but just couldn't hit shots."
Former CSU standout Norris Cole had his number 30 retired in a pre-game ceremony, becoming just the third player in program history to have his number raised to the rafters, joining Franklin Edwards and Ken McFadden.
Cole's New Orleans Pelicans teammates, in town for tonight's game against the Cavaliers, were in the arena to watch the ceremony, as was LeBron James, a teammate of Cole's in Miami.
The Vikings started out quick, taking a 17-10 lead seven minutes in, but the Golden Grizzlies responded with seven straight to knot the contest at 17-17 midway through the first half. Oakland opened up its largest lead of the half (36-31) on a Walker three-pointer with 2:08 to play and led by five at halftime (38-33).
Oakland maintained its lead in the second half with the Vikings pulling within two on three occasions, the final time coming on an Edwards layup at the 11:47 mark to cut the deficit to 46-44.
However, a 10-4 run over the next six minutes helped Oakland extend the lead to eight points (56-48) and CSU could get no closer.
