DEANTE JOHNSON'S GAME-WINNING DUNK:
QUICK HITS:
- With Friday night's nationally-televised win, Cleveland State now sits a perfect 9-0 in Horizon League play, continuing its best start to #HLMBB play in program history.
- The Vikings are off to their best start in any league/conference play since beginning the 1992-93 season 14-0 (Mid-Continent Conference).
- Cleveland State, winners of nine-in-a-row, continue its longest winning streak since winning 12 straight games during the 2010-11 season.
- Four of the five starters for Cleveland State recorded two-or-more steals: Torrey Patton (3), Craig Beaudion (2), Tre Gomillion (2), D'Moi Hodge (2).
- The Vikings held a +5 advantage in steals Friday, swiping 13 to the Raiders' eight.
- Friday's match marked the second-straight game Cleveland State recorded 10-or-more thefts, and the third time in four games. Over the past four contests, the Vikes are averaging 12.7 steals.
- Cleveland State held a +18 edge in bench points (23-5), while also holding advantages in second chance points (22-14) and points in the paint (32-28).
- Torrey Patton poured in a game-high 17 points on 7-13 (.538) shooting from the field, in addition to eight rebounds (four offensive) and three steals in 33 minutes of play.
- Patton has scored 10-or-more points in nine straight games, which marks the longest double-digit scoring streak of his career. Over those nine contests, all Cleveland State wins, the senior is averaging 15.2 points.
- Patton swiped a season-high tying three steals in Friday's win, marking the second straight game, as well as the third time in four games, doing so.
- Deante Johnson notched a near-double-double grabbing a game-high nine rebounds (four offensive) to go along with nine points on a 3-5 (.600) clip from the field. Johnson scored all nine of his points in the second half, which included the game-winning two-handed dunk.
- Algevon Eichelberger led all bench scoring with eight points, in addition to three rebounds in 18 minutes as a reserve.
- Craig Beaudion chipped in eight points, in addition to three rebounds, three assists and two steals in 32 minutes.
- Over the past two games, Beaudion is averaging 3.5 steals.
- D'Moi Hodge dished out a game-high four assists, to go along with seven points, two rebounds and two steals in 28 minutes.
PRESS CONFERENCE
DAYTON, Ohio – The Cleveland State Vikings took down the defending Horizon League champions at the buzzer, defeating Wright State by a 66-64 final on Friday night at the Nutter Center.
With the win, Cleveland State continued its red-hot start to Horizon League play (9-0), extending its program-best start to a HL campaign. The Vikings continue to sit atop the conference and expanded the gap between themselves and the Raiders (6-3).
Cleveland State trailed for nearly the entirety of the second half before putting together a 16-5 run capped off by a three-pointer from Jayson Woodrich to take a 57-53 edge with 4:51 left to play. The two sides traded baskets down the stretch before Torrey Patton handed Cleveland State a 64-62 lead on a layup with only 25 seconds on the clock.
With six seconds remaining, Wright State came up empty on a three-point attempt before Tanner Holden tipped home the rebound to tie the game at 64-64. The Vikings answered with authority when Johnson finished a lob pass from D'Moi Hodge as the buzzer sounded.
Deante Johnson scored all nine of his points in the second half and grabbed nine rebounds. Patton led all scorers with 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting while chipping in nine boards.
Both sides struggled from the field in a tightly contested opening 20 minutes, with the Vikings shooting 31.4 percent (11-for-35) compared to 38.9 percent (7-for-18) for the Raiders. The result was a 27-27 stalemate at halftime.
Cleveland State will look for its tenth straight victory on Saturday night as it wraps up a two-game set against Wright State.
UP NEXT: Cleveland State will take on Wright State for game two of the weekend series on Saturday at 7 p.m. Saturday's match will be broadcast on ESPN3, as well as on 1420-WHK, 102.5 FM and www.whkradio.com.
#GoVikes