Jan. 8, 2009
Final Stats | Quotes | Notes
Contact: Brian McCann
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Cleveland, Ohio - The Vikings had no problem taking care of Loyola, cruising to a 76-50 victory Thursday night in the Wolstein Center, improving to 6-2 at home this season.
J'Nathan Bullock started his 86th consecutive game, tying a school record set by Ken McFadden.
CSU improved to 12-5 overall and 3-2 in league play, while the Ramblers fell to 9-7 overall and 1-3 in the league.
"I thought our guys came on a mission today and it was a defensive mission," head coach Gary Waters said. "Defensively, these guys did a great job keeping them out of the paint. That team is a rebounding team and we put a better emphasis on that in the second half and it showed."
Cleveland State was led by J'Nathan Bullock who scored 20 points on the night, draining all of his three point shots he attempted.
George Tandy was a perfect 5-for-5 from the line en rout to a season high 13 point night, while adding seven rebounds.
The Vikings came out on their home floor dominating the Ramblers in the first half, leading by 22 points, with a score of 48-26.
Bullock came out firing in the first half shooting a perfect 6-6 from the field, 3-3 from beyond the three point line in a 15 point effort.
Cedric Jackson gave the Vikings a 2-0, which they would not surrender the rest of the game.
Trevon Harmon added 14 points of his own, shooting 3-4 from the three-point line, while Jackson provided four assists in the first half.
"I know Tre can score and do some things," Waters said. "I haven't had him that long to make an assessment of what he can do. He is offensive minded and is going to look ti score and shot."
Cleveland State continued their onslaught over the Ramblers throughout the second half scoring 28 points.
Tandy had the hot hand for the Vikings early on in the second half, knocking down four shots and a free throw giving him nine points and grabbing four rebounds.
Trevon Harmon scored a career high 17 points in his first career start for the Vikings.
The Vikings shot 46-percent from the field and 81-percent from beyond the three point line, while their defense held the Ramblers to shot 32-percent from the field.
"As a team, we sat down the first day and we lost D'Aundray and I listed four things on the board ... rebounding, loose balls, shut down guy and intensity. And no one player on our team has all four of those things," Waters said. "But we can get something from each player in each category. When they go out and play now, they understand each person has to make up for him."
The Ramblers were led by J.R. Blount who scored 16 points and added three rebounds and two assists. Leon Young had a team high 7 rebounds in a losing effort for Loyola. After the game, head coach Gary Waters announced the walk-on sophomore guard has left the team and intends to transfer to a D-3 program in the greater Cleveland area.
"Eric is a great kid and I wish him well," Waters said. "This was about getting a scholarship and getting playing time for him and I completely understand his decision. He did nothing but work hard his two years with the program."
The Vikings will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 10, at 7:30 p.m., when they host UIC at the Wolstein Center.
