Healthcare Appreciation Weekend
Presented by Cleveland Clinic Sports Medicine
Cleveland State vs. Youngstown State
Saturday, Dec. 26 | 1 p.m.
Wolstein Center | Cleveland, Ohio
Stream | Audio | Live Stats
Game Notes
SETTING THE SCENE
The Cleveland State men's basketball team enters Saturday's contest in search of beginning Horizon League play 3-0 for the first time since the 2014-15 season. If the Vikings were to sweep the Penguins Saturday and Sunday, Cleveland State would begin league play 4-0 for the first time since the 2010-11 campaign. D'Moi Hodge is coming off of a historic 46-point, 10-three-pointer outing, while Tre Gomillion, Deante Johnson and Torrey Patton eached scored season-highs over the weekend at Purdue Fort Wayne.
A WIN ON SATURDAY WOULD…
Mark the first time in six years the Vikings begin Horizon League play with a 3-0 record. Saturday's contest is the latest home opener since beginning the 1969-70 season with a 91-81 win over Eastern Montana. That game was played at Cuyahoga Community College.
THE CLEVELAND STATE/YOUNGSTOWN STATE SERIES
Saturday's contest is the 95th meeting between these two programs, with Cleveland State holding a 51-44 all-time advantage. Last season, the Vikings and Penguins split the season series 1-1, each winning in their respective arenas. The last time YSU came to town, Torrey Patton finished with a then-career-high 25 points, while grabbing a team-high eight rebounds, leading the Vikes to an 82-74 win.
SCOUTING THE PENGUINS
Youngstown State comes into Saturday's tilt against the Vikings with an overall record of 4-1 and a 1-1 mark in Horizon League competition. The Penguins are coming off of a 70-60 win over league rival Northern Kentucky, after falling 79-64, in their first game of the series. Youngstown State is led by Naz Bohannon's team-high 19.0 points per game, while grabbing 8.0 rebounds per contest. Darius Quisenberry and Shemar Rathan-Mayes are leading the Penguins with 2.8 assists per contest, while Michael Akuchie is pulling down a team-best 8.8 boards per game. Both Quisenberry and Bohanon were named to the Preseason All-Horizon League First and Second Team, respectively.
UNDEFEATED IN #HLMBB PLAY
For the first time in six years, the Vikings begin Horizon League play with a 2-0 record after taking down one of the newest members, Purdue Fort Wayne, of the #HLMBB in the first weekend of league play.
TRE GOMILLION AKA MR. RELIABLE
Gomillion has started in every game of his Cleveland State career (37 starts). The junior poured in a team-high 16 points on a career-best 8-13 (.615) shooting from the floor against Purdue Fort Wayne on Dec. 19. His 16 points scored were only two shy of tying his career mark (18). Gomillion tallied a near double-double against the Rockets on Dec. 1, finishing with 11 points on 5-8 (.625) shooting from the floor, eight rebounds and three assists in 27.3 minutes. The guard from Augusta, Ga., recorded two game-winning buckets last year (Nov. 22 vs. UNC-Wilmington and Dec. 30 at IUPUI).
UP NEXT
Cleveland State will ring in the New Year on the road against IUPUI. The Vikes will be on action on Friday, Jan. 1 at 2 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 2 at 12 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 or watch on an ESPN streaming platform.
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 7:00-8:00p on 1420-WHK, 102.5 FM or www.whkradio.com.
1985-86 CELEBRATION: ON THIS DATE, PRESENTED BY HUNTINGTON BANK
On Monday, Dec. 23, 1985, the Cleveland State Vikings extended their early-season winning streak to four games after taking down Maryland-Eastern Shore, 90-65. Over the Vikes four-game winning streak, Cleveland State poured in 100-or-more points in back-to-back games, averaging 96.8 points per contest.
