Cleveland State at Ohio State
Sunday, Dec. 13 | 4 p.m.
Value City Arena | Columbus, Ohio
Presented by Cleveland Clinic Sports Medicine
SETTING THE SCENE
The Cleveland State men's basketball team enters Sunday's contest against the nationally-ranked Buckeyes seeking their first win of the 2020-21 season. Junior Deante Johnson comes into Sunday's match averaging a Horizon League-leading 3.0 blocks per game, while freshman Jayson Woodrich looks to continue his hot-hand as a reserve, leading the Vikings in bench scoring.
A WIN ON SUNDAY WOULD…
Mark Cleveland State's first W against a nationally-ranked opponent since taking down No. 7 Vanderbilt in the 2011-12 season opener. The Vikings beat Vanderbilt, 71-58, inside Memorial Gymnasium behind an 18-point, seven-steal performance from D'Aundray Brown.
THE CLEVELAND STATE/OHIO STATE SERIES
Sunday's contest is the 10th all-time meeting between these two programs. The last time Cleveland State and Ohio State met was on Nov. 23, 2018, with the Buckeyes taking an 89-62 victory. Ohio State enters Sunday's tilt on a five-game winning streak over the Vikes, with Cleveland State having not beaten OSU since Dec. 17, 1994, 75-73, in Cleveland. A win on Sunday would mark the Vikings first-ever win against the Buckeyes in Columbus, Ohio.
ONE FOR THE RECORD BOOKS
Junior forward Deante Johnson had a record-setting performance in the team's first contest of the season at Toledo (12/1/20). Johnnson grabbed a career-high tying 10 rebounds (last done 1/5/20 at Green Bay) and set a new career-high in blocks, rejecting five shots. The junior's five blocks are tied for seventh-most in a single game in Cleveland State history. Johnson is the 24th Viking in CSU history to swat five shots (last done by Charlie Woods vs. Valpo, 2/3/11) and is one of only 10 players in NCAA Divion I to record 10+ rebounds and 5+ blocks in a single game this season (as of 12/11/20).
WELCOME BACK, BEAUDION!
Senior Craig Beaudion poured in a team-high 14 points against the Rockets on Tuesday (12/1), in addition to four rebounds and two assists in 35.1 minutes of play. The Chicago, Ill., native, who suffered a season-ending right knee injury, appeared in 24 games (14 starts), averaging 10.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.8 steals in 31.3 minutes per game last year. He was one of only three Vikings to average 10-or-more points, while leading the team in assists per game. Beaudion's 1.8 steals were good for third-most in the Horizon League.
MEET THE CAPTAINS
The Cleveland State men's basketball captains for the 2020-21 season include: Algevon Eichelberger, Torrey Patton, Craig Beaudion and Deante Johnson. The team's bench captain is sophomore guard Jeremy Sanchez, while the freshman captain is three-star recruit Alec Oglesby.
RETURNING PRODUCTION
In Horizon League play, the Vikings are returning over 80% of their production from last season: 83% of total points, 84% of total rebounds, 82% of total assists, 86% total blocks and 83% of total steals.
THE DENNIS GATES COACH'S RADIO SHOW
We are excited for the return of The Coach Dennis Gates Radio Show! You can catch the Voice of the Vikings, Al Pawlowski, and Coach Gates talk CSU basketball each Wednesday night from 7:00-8:00 p.m. on 1420-WHK, 102.5 FM or www.whkradio.com.
UP NEXT
The Vikings will open Horizon League play at Robert Morris on Dec. 19 (6 p.m.) and Dec. 20 (5 p.m.). Fans can listen to the game on 1420-WHK, 102.5 FM or www.whkradio.com with the Voice of Cleveland State men's basketball Al Pawlowski on the call.
