QUICK HITS
- Algevon Eichelberger posted his first career double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds
- Cleveland State limited UNC Wilmington to 27.3 percent shooting for the game
- Cleveland State improved to 2-4 on the season with the win
- Craig Beaudion added 10 points and three assists for the Vikings
- Cleveland State held the Seahawks without a field goal for the final 7:47 of the game
- Sophomore Tre Gomillion scored the game-winning basket for the Vikings on an offensive putback with 10 seconds to play
GAME RECAP
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Cleveland State used a suffocating defensive effort and the first career double-double from junior Algevon Eichelberger to defeat UNC Wilmington 47-46 on Friday in the Battle for the Capital Tournament in the D.C. Entertainment & Sports Arena.
Cleveland State held UNC Wilmington to just 27.3 percent shooting for the game and held the Seahawks without a field goal for the final 7:47 of the contest.
Eichelberger sparked the Cleveland State offense as he posted a career-high 19 points and also grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds to notch his first career double-double.
Cleveland State, which improved to 2-4 on the season, relied on its defense to overcome a late five-point deficit.
The Vikings trailed 41-36 after a pair of free throws Imajae Dodd at the 6:47 mark of the second half.
A driving layup by Craig Beaudion brought Cleveland State to within 41-38, but Kai Towes increased the lead to 43-38 with a pair of free throws with 6:04 to play in regulation.
Eichelberger powered inside off a feed from Beaudion that brought the Vikings to within 43-40 with 4:56 left in the second period.
Dodd then made 1-of-2 free throws to up the Seahawks lead to 44-40, but Hugo Ferreira knocked down two free throws for the Vikings at the 4:03 mark to bring Cleveland State within two of the lead.
Eichelberger made 1-of-2 free throws at the 1:37 mark of the second half to get Cleveland State within one point of the lead at 44-43, but Brian Tolefree answered with a pair of free throws to increase the Seahawks lead to 46-43 with 1:34 to play.
Eichelberger responded with a dunk on the Vikings next trip down the floor to trim the lead to 46-45 with 1:09 to play.
Ferreira recorded a critical steal on the Seahawks next possession to give Cleveland State the ball with 46 seconds to play and a chance to take the lead.
Beaudion drove to the basket but his jumper was off the mark, but Tre Gomillion cleaned up the rebound and scored on the putback giving the Vikings a 47-46 lead.
In a fitting closure to the game, Cleveland State forced a five-second count as the Seahawks attempted to inbound the ball with 0.7 seconds to play.
Cleveland State will conclude play in the Battle for the Capital Tournament when it faces Eastern Kentucky on Saturday (Nov. 23) at 3:30 p.m. in the D.C. Entertainment & Sports Arena.
