Posted: Nov 29, 2017
VIDEO: Highlights
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Kenny Carpenter scored 17 points and was one of four players in double figures as Cleveland State defeated Arkansas State, 75-72, on Wednesday night in the Wolstein Center.
The Vikings improved to 2-4 this year, while ASU fell to 2-5.
STAT LEADERS
- Carpenter scored a game-high 17 points, hitting 7-of-10 from the field, while adding six rebounds and two assists.
- Anthony Wright tallied 11 points, six rebounds and three assists.
- Bobby Word scored 11 points, while Dontel Highsmith added 10 points and four steals.
- Arkansas native Tyree Appleby finished with seven points and a career-high seven assists.
- Evan Clayborne added a career-high eight points
COACH SPEAK
- "Tonight was a step in the right direction for our team. It was a great group effort and we received contributions from everybody. I was really happy with our consistency, toughness, effort and the ability to persevere through the ups and downs." – Head Coach Dennis Felton
FIRST HALF RECAP
- The Vikings opened the game by hitting nine of their first 10 shots to take a 19-12 lead just over seven minutes in.
- Highsmith and Wright executed a 2-on-1 fast break, Carpenter nailed a three-pointer and Wright made a driving layup to cap the run.
- ASU came right back with seven straight points to knot the contest at 19-19, but a three-pointer from Highsmith and layup from Kasheem Thomas pushed the CSU lead back to five points (24-19) with 8:12 left.
- The Red Wolves responded with a 13-5 run to take a 32-29 lead at the 2:49 mark before the teams went into the locker rooms tied at 34-34.
SECOND HALF RECAP
- ASU hit six of its first eight shots of the second half to take a 49-46 lead five minutes in.
- However, the Vikings hit five straight field goals as part of a 14-2 run to take a 60-51 lead on Carpenter's jumper at the 12:00 mark.
- The Red Wolves stormed right back with 11 straight points to take a 62-60 lead only to watch CSU answer with 10 straight points to regain a 70-62 advantage
- ASU would pull within one point (70-69) with 3:14 to play before the Vikings used a Clayborne dunk and Carpenter free throw to regain a 73-69 lead with 1:29 to play.
- Deven Simms nailed a three-pointer on the next possession to pull ASU back within one point (73-72) and after a CSU miss, offensive rebound and another miss, the Red Wolves had a chance to take the lead but Word blocked a shot from Ty Cockfield that went out of bounds off ASU.
- The Vikings turned the ball over on the inbounds, but ASU turned it right back over. Word was fouled and knocked down both free throws and ASU couldn't get the ball over midcourt as time ran out.
KEY STATS
- CSU has now played in three straight one possession games for the first since in program history since Dec. 30, 1999 – Jan. 8, 2000. The Vikings went 2-1 in those games.
- Both teams shot 29-of-60 (.483) from the field.
- CSU forced 18 turnovers, which it turned into 22 points.
- ASU held a 37-30 advantage on the boards.
- The Vikings blocked six shots, the most for CSU since 2015, and also had eight steals.
UP NEXT
- The Vikings hit the road for their next two games, playing at Kent State on Saturday (Dec. 2) at 7:00 pm and traveling to Western Michigan for a 7:00 pm contest on Wednesday (Dec. 6).
- CSU returns home to host Notre Dame (OH) on Sunday (Dec. 10) at 2:00 pm in the Wolstein Center.
- All three games will be broadcast on ESPN3.