HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Cleveland State men's basketball team closed out its current two-game roadswing at Northern Kentucky Saturday evening, dropping a 75-49 contest against the Norse.
QUICK HITS
· Algevon Eichelberger led the Vikings with 17 points on the night, marking his eighth straight double-digit scoring game.
· Jaalam Hill also finished in double figures, posting 11 points against the Norse for his first double-digit scoring game since December.
· Torrey Patton grabbed a team-high nine rebounds on the game, while Algevon Eichelberger and Jaalam Hill both posted six boards.
· Kasheem Thomas and Deante Johnson both finished the game with a pair of steals.
· Saturday's game marked the second of just two road games for the Vikings during the month of January.
· Cleveland State now stands at 7-13 overall this season and 3-4 in Horizon League play.
GAME RECAP
During the opening half, the Vikings struggled offensively against the top defensive team in the Horizon League, as the Norse gained a 38-21 advantage after the first 20 minutes of play.
Throughout the first frame, Cleveland State recorded over half of its points at the free throw line, as the Vikings went 11-for-14 from the charity stripe, including a 4-for-6 effort from Jaalam Hill who finished the first half with a team-best six points.
After trading baskets over the first six minutes of the contest, Northern Kentucky posted an 18-0 run over a span of 7:19, gaining a 26-9 lead and control of the contest.
Cleveland State was able to snap this scoring run with a Hill jumper at the 5:06 mark, but a Northern Kentucky three-pointer on the ensuing possession put the momentum back in NKU's favor as they closed out the first half with a 17-point lead.
The Vikings' offensive struggles continued throughout the opening part of the second half then, as NKU extended its lead to 51-26 just six minutes into the frame.
Although a Deante Johnson dunk and a pair of free throws from Kasheem Thomas gave the Vikings a spark with just over 12 minutes left to play, NKU responded with seven straight points to gain a 58-30 advantage at the 9:59 mark.
Hill once again snapped the NKU scoring run for the Vikings on their next possession, as a jumper at the 9:40 mark kickstarted a 6-4 run for Cleveland State that put the score at 62-36 NKU with just over eight minutes left on the clock.
Despite the late Viking run, NKU was able to hold a sizeable advantage throughout the remainder of the contest, pulling away with the 75-49 victory to mark its fifth straight win.
Cleveland State will now turn its attention to Green Bay, as the Vikings are set to host the Phoenix at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 23.
