Posted: Nov 27, 2016
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Cleveland State rallied from an 18-point second half deficit to tie the game, but Duquesne used a strong finish to claim a 78-71 victory over the Vikings in the final game of the Bluegrass Showcase for both teams at the AJ Palumbo Center.
CSU fell to 1-4 this year, while the Dukes improved to 3-4.
STAT LEADERS
- Kasheem Thomas led the Vikings with 16 points, four rebounds, six assists and three steals. It was the third time in five games this year that Thomas has dished out at least six assists.
- Rob Edwards scored 15 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out three assists. He was 7-of-12 from the field.
- Kenny Carpenter added 13 points off the bench, hitting 2-of-3 from three-point, and registered four rebounds.
- Jibri Blount scored nine points with four rebounds, while Demonte Flannigan scored six points in 19 minutes off the bench in his first action this season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The first half featured 12 lead changes with the Vikings taking a 18-14 lead midway through the first half on a Jamarcus Hairston three-pointer.
- The lead was still four points (28-24) with 3:33 left in the first half after a Hairston free throw, but Duquesne closed the half on a 9-2 run to take a 33-30 lead into the locker room.
- The Dukes pushed the lead to 42-33 just four minutes into the second half, but a Carpenter three-pointer capped a 10-2 run for CSU that sliced the deficit to 44-43 with 13:06 to play.
- However, Duquense scored the next 17 points to open up a 61-43 lead with just under 10 minutes to play.
- The Vikings answered with 18 straight points of their own to tie the game at 61-61 on a Demonte Flannigan basket with 5:16 to play.
- Duquesne responded with five straight points to take a 66-61 lead with 4:36 to play, but back-to-back baskets from Flannigan and Edwards brought CSU within one point (66-65) with four minutes left.
- The teams traded baskets as the Dukes maintained a one point lead (68-67) with 3:28 on the clock, but Duquesne scored 10 of the next 12 points to close out the game.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- The Vikings shot 25-of-65 (.385) from the floor, while Duquesne was 27-of-55 (.491).
- CSU hit 16-of-24 (.667) at the free throw line. The Dukes were just 18-of-31 (.581).
- Duquesne held a 43-35 advantage on the boards, while both teams grabbed 13 offensive rebounds.
- Both squads received strong production from their benches with CSU's reserves combining for 27 points and Duquesne's bench scoring 38.
- Flannigan and Terrell Hales both played for the first time this year. The duo had missed the first four games of the season with injuries.
UP NEXT
- The Vikings conclude a four-game road trip with an 8:00 pm ET game at Arkansas State on Wednesday (Nov. 30).
- CSU returns home to host Bethune-Cookman on Saturday (Dec. 3) at 12:00 pm at Quicken Loans Arena.