VIDEO: Postgame Press Conference
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Trey Lewis recorded his first career double-double with 25 points and 12 rebounds and Anton Grady scored 24 points as Cleveland State reclaimed first place in the Horizon League with a 76-62 win over Green Bay on Saturday afternoon in the Wolstein Center.
The Vikings improved to 13-10 overall and 7-2 in the league, while the Phoenix fell to 17-5 overall and 6-2 in the Horizon League.
The 7-2 start in the Horizon League equals the 2007-08 squad for best start after nine league games.
Valparaiso is tied for first place in the league with CSU after winning at UIC on Saturday afternoon.
Lewis, who posted his 13th career 20-point game, hit 9-of-15 from the field, including 4-of-7 from three-point, while the 12 rebounds were a career-high. Grady hit 8-of-13 from the field, adding six rebounds, snapping his streak of consecutive double-doubles at four.
Charlie Lee added 12 points and seven assists, while Andre Yates and Demonte Flannigan scored five points each off the bench.
CSU was playing without starting forward Marlin Mason who missed his third straight game.
CSU opened the game by making 12 of its first 16 shots, racing out to a 25-8 lead midway through the first half. However, the Vikings hit just two of their final 11 shots of the half, but a strong defensive effort helped CSU maintain an 11-point (32-21) lead at the break.
The Phoenix scored the first six points of the second half to slice CSU's lead to five points (32-27), but Lewis hit a three-pointer to jump start a 14-4 CSU run that gave the Vikings a 46-31 lead with 12:32 to play.
An 8-1 spurt by the Phoenix allowed them to cut the lead back under double-digits (47-39) midway through the second half, but Andre Yates converted a three-point play that started a 12-3 CSU run that opened up the Vikings' largest lead of the game (59-42) with 6:16 to play.
Green Bay would get no closer than 11 points (65-54; 2:35) the rest of the way as the Vikings hit 11-of-14 free throws over the final 2:17 as the Phoenix extended the game with fouls to stop the clock.
CSU shot .568 (25-44) from the field, including 11-of-17 (.647) in the second half. CSU also hit 20-of-26 (.769) free throws in the second half after going just 1-of-5 (.200) in the opening stanza.
The Vikings controlled the boards, 32-26, while both teams made eight steals.
The Vikings will be back in action on Wednesday (Feb. 4) when CSU continues its three-game homestand with a 7:00 p.m. game against Youngstown State.
