Nov. 19, 2010
Contact: Brian McCann
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LAFAYETTE, La. - Norris Cole scored a game-high 19 points, including eight on free throws in the final three minutes as Cleveland State opened up a big first half lead and then held off Louisiana down the stretch to claim a 60-55 victory in front of 3,689 in the Cajundome.
The Vikings improve to 5-0 for the first time in the 80-year history of the program while Louisiana drops to 1-3.
"To start the year 5-0 is important," Waters said. "What we are trying to do is build tradition here and set records at the start of the season. It is a step in the right direction."
"It was good to see us play hard in the first half even though we were in foul trouble. We kept playing hard and aggressive defense and that translated into them having a tough first half shooting. I thought Aaron Pogue took a big step forward tonight because he dominated the inside and they really didn't have an answer for him defensively and that is something we are going to need this year."
Pogue finished with 13 points and six boards and Trevon Harmon added 10 points.
After rallying from 16 points down in the second half to defeat Kent State on Sunday (Nov. 14), the Vikings found themselves with the shoe on the other foot as CSU had an 18-point second half lead disappear.
With the game tied at 45-45, Trevon Harmon, who was hampered with foul trouble in the first half, knocked down a three-pointer with 3:06 left to put the Vikings ahead for good.
Following a Cole steal, his fifth of the night, he was fouled going to the basket and promptly knocked down a pair of free throws to give CSU a 50-45 lead with 2:51 left.
Louisiana would challenge, but never had the ball in their possession with a chance to tie the game as Cole scored 10 points in the last 2:51 to ice the game. He was eight-for-eight from the line down the stretch, extending his streak of consecutive free throws made in the final 5:00 of games to 22 this year.
Cole was dominant down the stretch.
After a La'Ryan Gary field goal pulled UL to within three, Cole knocked down a jumper with 1:48 left to push it back to 52-47.
Gary was fouled driving to the hoop and made both free throws to make it a three point game again, but Trey Harmon scored on a driving layup to make it 54-49 with 1:12 left.
A Josh Brown jumper made it a three point game again, but Cole converted two free throws with 29 seconds left to put CSU ahead, 56-51.
A Gary dunk with 17 seconds pulled Louisiana to within three for a fifth time in the final minutes but Cole was fouled again, making both free throws with 14 seconds left.
Gary scored in the lane to make it a three point game but Cole was fouled on the inbounds and made both free throws with 2.8 seconds left to lock up the win.
"You could see just by the look on his face that he wasn't going to give this game away," Waters said. "He wanted the ball in his hands and he wasn't going to give it up. When he stepped to the line, he kept his composure, like he had all year long, then made big free throw after big free throw. That's what a leader does."
The first half looked like the Vikings would walk away with an easy win.
After the game was tied five times early (2, 4, 7, 9 & 12), the last coming when Tim Kamczyc knocked down a trey with 13:43 left.
Just prior to that, UL's David Perez connected on a three-pointer with 14:34 left, UL was shooting .814 from the field (5-7). It would be the final field goal of the opening stanza for the Ragin' Cajuns as would miss the final 16 shots as CSU took control.
The first half was not without concern for CSU as Norris Cole, Trey Harmon and Jeremy Montgomey each picked up a pair of fouls in the first nine minutes with Harmon picking up his third at the 9:25 mark and center Aaron Pogue getting his second with 3:20 left in the half.
Before leaving however, Pogue dominated inside, making all four field goal attempts and both free throws to lead the Vikings with 10 first half points. He added six rebounds as part of a stifling 30-13 rebounding effort in the opening half.
With the Viking guards in foul trouble, Charlie Woods and Josh McCoy each played significant first half minutes, McCoy scoring eight points with five rebounds and Woods grabbing six boards in the first half.
"The bench came through for us in the first half when we were in foul trouble and that's another great sign," Waters said. "Charlie and Josh gave us some solid minutes and helped us fill our rotation."
The 15-point halftime lead was pushed to 18 when Montgomery made a long three-pointer with 17:44 left to make it a 38-20 CSU lead.
That's when the comeback started.
"I didn't like that we had the big lead and couldn't put them away," Waters said. "We let them back in and when you do that on the road, it usually spells trouble. We kept our composure and Norris and Tre really took over down the stretch."
The Vikes would not give up the lead as Norris Cole knocked down six free throws over the last 30 seconds to secure Cleveland State's fifth consecutive win to start 2010-11.
The Vikings return to northeast Ohio to close this brief, two-game road trip when CSU travels to Akron on Wednesday, Nov. 24 beginning at 7:00 p.m. in JAR Arena.
