QUICK HITS:
- The Vikings held a 12-point advantage over the Buckeyes in points in the paint, tallying 34 to Ohio State's 22.
- Cleveland State outrebounded the Buckeyes 36-34 (+2).
- Cleveland State also held advantages in second chance points (12-6), fast break points (10-7) and assists (11-10).
- 11 of the 12 Vikings who saw action Sunday contributed at least one point.
- In the second half of Sunday's game, Cleveland State shot .519 (14-27) from the field, including a .500 (5-10) margin from the three-point line.
- Cleveland State outscored Ohio State in bench points, 29-19, behind Chris Greene's 12 points.
- Torrey Patton pulled down a game-high, and career-high tying, 14 rebounds, to go along with a season-best eight points and two assists in 30 minutes.
- The last time Patton grabbed 14 rebounds was Feb. 29, 2020 at Green Bay. Sunday's contest marked the fourth time in his collegiate career that the senior recorded 10-or-more rebounds in a single game.
- Junior transfer, D'Moi Hodge, poured in a team-high 14 points, to go along with four rebounds, one block and one steal in 33 minutes as a starter.
- Chris Greene finished with 12 points on 5-7 (.741) shooting from the field, including a 2-4 (.500) clip from three-point territory and two rebounds in nine minutes as a reserve.
- Greene's 12 points led Cleveland State's bench in scoring and marked a game-high tying for reserve points (Zed Key-12 points).
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Cleveland State Vikings (0-3) fell to the nationally-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes (5-0), 67-61, in a battle on Sunday evening at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
The Buckeyes began Sunday's contest knocking down their first two three-pointers, taking an early 6-0 lead, before junior forward Deante Johnson sunk a pair of free throws to get Cleveland State on the scoreboard.
D'Moi Hodge recorded his seventh point of the day off of a layup to bring the Vikings within one point of the Buckeyes, 12-11, with 11:39 left to play in the first half.
At the intermission of Sunday's contest, Ohio State held a seven-point, 31-24, advantage. Cleveland State had seven Vikings notch points in the opening 20 minutes of action, including a team-high seven points from Hodge.
Ohio State scored the first four points of the second half, opening up a double-digit, 35-24, lead. Craig Beaudion knocked down a jump shot to bring the Vikings within single digits, 35-26, with 17:38 on the clock.
Chris Greene buried a three-pointer with 14:43 remaining in regulation, narrowing Cleveland State's deficit to three points, 38-35. The junior transfer then hit a layup, bringing the Vikes within one point of the No. 22 Buckeyes, 38-37.
Ohio State led Cleveland State by eight points, 47-39, at the 8:53 mark of the second half, before Hodge responded by connecting on a triple.
The Buckeyes maintained their pace throughout the rest of the second half, finishing Sunday's contest with a six-point, 67-61, victory.
UP NEXT:
Cleveland State will open up Horizon League play on the road against the newest members of the league, Robert Morris, on December 19 at 6 p.m. and December 20 at 5 p.m.
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE:
