Fort Wayne, IN-The Cleveland State Men's Basketball team won its third straight game, defeating Purdue Fort Wayne 72-60 at the Mastodons' Memorial Coliseum on Monday night.
The Vikings improved to 11-8 overall, and 6-2 in the Horizon League to move into a tie for first place through eight games. Purdue Fort Wayne fell to 12-7 overall and 4-4 in the league.
Tristan Enaruna led the way with 24 points, setting a new season high. For the third straight game, Enaruna dominated in the second half. He scored 20 points after halftime, including a run of 11 straight at one point. Enaruna finished 10-11 from the free throw line, and also added 12 rebounds for his third double-double of the season.
Tae Williams and Deshon Parker finished with 12 points each. Williams was an efficient six for seven from the floor, and Parker added two assists and a steal while finishing 6-10 from the floor.
Deante Johnson was the fourth Viking to finish in double figures, scoring 10 points and finishing a rebound shy of a double-double with nine boards. Johnson also finished a perfect four of four from the free throw line.
Cleveland State out-rebounded Purdue Fort Wayne 39-32, and finished with a 44-24 edge in the paint. The Vikings held Purdue Fort Wayne, a normally potent team from beyond the three point arc, to just 6-23 from three.
The two teams traded baskets early on, until the midway point of the half where the Vikings opened it up. A Williams dunk at the 10:13 mark made it 16-7 Cleveland State. The Vikings pulled ahead by double digits for the first time a few minutes later, when Drew Lowder knocked down a three-pointer to make it 21-11.
The Vikings held firm down the stretch, and led 32-26 headed into halftime. Williams led the way with 10 points in the opening 20 minutes.
Purdue Fort Wayne responded to start the second half. The Mastodons went on a 9-0 run coming out of the break to take a three-point lead less than three minutes into the second frame.
The Vikings trailed by a point when Enaruna went on his scoring barrage. He scored 11 consecutive points, converting seven free throws and two field goals, to push the Vikings back in front 45-39 with 13:26 remaining.
The two teams played pretty much dead even for the next eight minutes. With the Viking lead down to four with five minutes to play, Jayson Woodrich knocked down a critical three pointer that pushed the lead to seven, 61-54.
The Mastodons would not get any closer the rest of the way, as Cleveland State closed the game strong. Enaruna converted an and-one opportunity that pushed the lead back to double-digits with a little over four minutes to play.
The Vikings made their free throws down the stretch to keep the lead and finish out the road victory. Cleveland State finished a stellar 14-16 from the free throw line. In the last two games, the Vikings are 25-27 from the charity stripe.
Cleveland State remains on the road, as the Vikings will next travel to Northern Kentucky for a Thursday night Horizon League matchup. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.