Jan. 20, 2011
Final Stats | Quotes | Notes
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By: Robert Ivory
CLEVELAND, Ohio- With the game tied at 60 with 7:44 to go in the game, Cleveland State's bench stepped up and helped the Vikings go on a 14-1 tear to secure their 17th win of the year in a 81-69 victory over the Titans of Detroit Mercy.
After leading by seven at the half, Cleveland State and UDM battled for several minutes where Detroit lead 60-59 with 8:05 left in the game.
After that point, it was all CSU as the Vikings received valuable minutes from their bench to accelerate their play and collect their sixth Horizon League win of the year.
"Our bench really came through today," head coach Gary Waters said. "I think they were committed and focused. I thought it was a physical game, but I did not think it was more physical then I anticipated."
With the win, Cleveland State has now tied the record of consecutive wins by the Vikings at the Wolstein Center with 13, as CSU moves to 17-3 on the year and 6-2 in the league.
The Viking bench contributed 23 points, as Charlie Woods and Josh McCoy added eight points each. McCoy and Joe Latas had four rebounds each and Woods had three. The CSU bench collected 14 rebounds.
"We turned them over 19 times. When you turn them over 19 times, that's Cleveland State basketball and when you see how they acted when we turned the pressure up on them, that's how we play."
Trevon Harmon led all scorers with 22 points and Norris Cole added 18 of his own. Harmon's 20-plus was his fourth of the year and Cole helped out with 11 assists, which tied a career-high.
CSU took the early lead and Cole led the charge for the Vikings. Cole scored his first two of three baskets as he found an open shot under the hoop, a layup, and a jumper to help the Vikings get out to a 9-2 lead in the first five minutes.
The Vikings helped Detroit to 1-9 shooting in that time, a dunk on an offensive rebound by Nick Minnerath.
Waters had to go to his bench early as junior Joe Latas, sophomore Josh McCoy and freshman Luda Ndaye saw significant early minutes.
"He told us we needed to step up and we took it upon ourselves in practice to bring up the intensity," McCoy said.
Head coach Waters was happy to see that his bench was performing (12 points in the half) after the bench scored just four in the past three games.
CSU led 11-4 after a pair of McCoy free throws at 13:47. After that point, UDM went on an 8-0 run to take the 12-11 lead with 11:49 in the half.
Trey Harmon stopped the bleeding as he hit a three from the left hand corner to give the Vikings the 14-12 lead. Latas would then get Ray McCallum to charge.
Charlie Woods hit a three of his own from the right side to give a key momentum swing. Detroit came back and hit a jumper, but Woods hit another answer, and another three gave CSU a 9-2 run and 20-15 lead with 9:10 to go.
"I was in a little slump earlier," Woods said. "In order to be a shooter you can't be afraid to keep shooting and that's how you get out of it."
Harmon would hit a wide-open three on top of the key to give the Vikes the 25-16 lead. Trey would go 3-5 from beyond the arc in the first half.
Waters would call the game a "physical one" during the week and that was certainly seen as CSU was called for nine fouls (and Detroit two) in the first 14 minutes of play. At the end of the half, five different Vikings had two fouls each.
CSU would expand their lead to 27-18 on a Harmon jumper in the paint with seven minutes to go. Harmon would have ten points at that point.
Detroit would go on a 10-5 run over the next four minutes to get the CSU lead to 35-28. Harmon would again answer with another three of his own (part of his game leading 18 points at the half) and a jumper to get CSU back up by nine, 37-28, with two minutes to go.
Luda Ndaye would help the Vikings equal their biggest lead of the half at 39-28 on his jumper with 1:21. The Titans would close the half on a 4-0 run, concluding with a Holman jumper in the paint as the buzzard went off the close the half at 39-32 CSU.
CSU was outrebounded 22-12 at the half, but the 12 offensive rebounds for Titans helped them score 14 second chance points in the half.
Detroit used their opening possession well, as they hit their first three pointer on the night as they drained the three and got UDM within four.
Cole got an easy bucket as he charged the lane, got the nice finger role and put CSU up three 46-43 with 16:32, as Detroit nearly wiped away the deficit.
Detroit retook the lead at the 15:05 mark as Minnerath hit a layup to give Detroit the 47-46, their first since 12-11 in the first half.
Pogue was called for an elbow after making the defensive rebound, was called for the elbow and the intensity of the game picked up from that point.
Trevon Harmon got the lead back on his 20th point of the night as he hit a layup after a Cole steal; 48-47 with 13 minutes in the game.
Latas would get a pass from McCoy and hit the basket to give CSU a four-point lead, but would miss the free throw after he was fouled. Detroit would eventually retake the lead, but Cole made a three point play for CSU's lead.
"I think as a whole, we just needed to take it upon ourselves because, in that slump, we were having a hard time getting things going," Latas said. "Sometimes you just gotta go out there with a clear head and an intensity that, no matter what happens, your gonna put your best foot forward."
The last eight minutes would certainly have the feel that the game would go back-and-forth, as the game was tied 60 all at the 7:44 mark.
Latas would again make a huge basket, as Joe got the ball, spun, was fouled, and drained the inside shot. He then made the free throw to give CSU a 66-60 lead with 5:33. Latas ended the game with five points, but they came at key times for the Vikes.
"We decided to lock down on the defensive end," Latas said. "I think everything branched out of that."
Detroit did not help their cause, as they missed six of seven free throws, as CSU cushioned their lead. The Titans went 7-16 free throw shooting for the second half.
Cole put the nail in the coffin, as he drove to the basket, hit the layup, and was fouled. It gave CSU the 70-61 lead with 3:42 and possible the deep breathe they needed all second half.
"There was a point in the game where he made every assist, made every play," Waters said. Everybody needs that kind of guy who can take you to another lever. Norris doesn't just do it for himself, he does if for his team. He literally took the game over for five minutes."
Tim Kamczyc hit a three (part of his 10 points) to put CSU up 74-61, but more importantly, Harmon stole the ball on the rebound, letting CSU control the momentum and the lead.
The Titans fall to .500 on the year and in the league (10-10; 4-4).
Cleveland State ends their two-game home stand on Saturday (Jan. 22) against Ohio rival Wright State for a 2:00 p.m. matinee game. That is game one of a double header, with the women's team playing the Raiders at 4:00 p.m.
