VIDEO: Highlights | Postgame Press Conference

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Stefan Kenic scored a career-high 19 points and Anthony Wright tallied his second career double-double as Cleveland State won its second straight game with a 75-72 win over Detroit Mercy on Wednesday night in the Wolstein Center.

CSU improved to 8-20 overall and 5-10 in the Horizon League, while the Titans fell to 7-20 overall (3-11 HL).

STAT LEADERS

• Kenic surpassed his previous career-high of 16 points set on Saturday night at UIC by hitting 6-of-9 from the floor, including 2-of-3 from three. He also hit all five of his free throws.
• Wright finished with 15 points and a career-high 12 rebounds, while adding four steals, and two assists.
• It was Wright's second career double-double. He also had one at Kent State earlier this year.
• Bobby Word scored 15 points with two rebounds and two assists.
• Kenny Carpenter added 11 points and six rebounds and Kasheem Thomas dished out five assists.
• Terrell Hales grabbed six rebounds, including four on the offensive end.

COACH SPEAK

• "I'm thrilled to get a win like this. I thought we were a little lethargic physically tonight, but they kept fighting all game. It was good to figure out a way to win another close game. This was the second straight game where we were better with maturity, poise and composure, working through some things and have successful possessions at crucial times."
   – Head Coach Dennis Felton

FIRST HALF RECAP

• Appleby and Word had three-pointers to start and end a 16-2 run to open the game for the Vikings as CSU hit its first six shots of the game.
• The lead was still 14 points (26-12) after a three-pointer from Word, but the Titans used a 14-3 spurt to pull within three points (29-26) with just under five minutes to play.
• Kenic answered with a layup and three-pointer to push the lead back to eight points (34-26).
• The Vikings would lead by eight points (40-32) at halftime.

SECOND HALF RECAP

• The Titans opened the second half by scoring the first 11 points to take its first lead of the game (43-40) on a three-pointer at the 17:25 mark.
• CSU came back with a 12-4 run – capped by a Kenic three-point play – to take a 52-47 lead at the 13:38 mark.
• Detroit Mercy cut the Viking lead back to one point (58-57) at the 9:14 mark.
• The CSU lead was still one point (64-63) after two Titan free throws at the 4:44 mark, but two free throws from Kenic and a Carpenter three-pointer pushed the lead to 69-63 with just under four minutes left.
• The teams continued to trade baskets until a Wright offensive rebound and putback gave CSU a 73-67 lead with 32 seconds left and Kenic hit two free throws with eight seconds to ice the win.

KEY STATS

• CSU out-rebounded the Titans, 35-31.
• Tonight was the 10^th one possession game of the season for the Vikings who are now 5-5 in games decided by three points or less.
• Six of CSU's League games have been decided by three points or less.
• CSU shot .491 (28-57) from the floor and hit 11 threes. It was the 11^th game this year that the Vikings have hit at least 10 threes.

UP NEXT

• CSU hosts Oakland on Friday (Feb. 16) at 7:00 pm in the Wolstein Center in the final home game of the season.
• It will be Senior Day with CSU's six seniors – Kenny Carpenter, Jamarcus Hairston, Terrell Hales, Derek Sloan, Bobby Word and Anthony Wright – being honored in a pre-game ceremony.