Military Appreciation Weekend, Presented by the Viking Vets
Cleveland State vs. Northern Kentucky
Friday, Jan. 8 | 7 p.m.
The Wolstein Center | Cleveland, Ohio
Presented by Cleveland Clinic Sports Medicine
Stream | Audio | Live Stats
Game Notes
SETTING THE SCENE
The Cleveland State men's basketball team enters this weekend's pair of Horizon League games in search of going 8-0 for the first time since the 1992-93 season. Currently, 6-0, in league play, the Vikings are off to their best start since the 2007-08 season (7-0). Cleveland State rang in the new year with a two-game sweep over IUPUI. Tre Gomillion is coming off of an 18-point performance in his latest outing (Jan. 2), while senior Torrey Patton looks to continue his 10-plus-points streak, having poured in 10-or-more in six straight games.
A WIN ON FRIDAY WOULD…
Tie the best start to Horizon League play since the 2007-08 season with both teams going a perfect 7-0 to begin league play. If the Vikings were to win on Friday, and Saturday, Cleveland State would have its best start to a conference season since going 14-0 in the 1992-93 season.
THE CLEVELAND STATE/NORTHERN KENTUCKY SERIES
Friday will be the 12th meeting all-time between these two programs. Northern Kentucky comes into Friday's contest winning the last two matches, with the Vikings not having won since Feb. 23, 2019. In Cleveland State's last win over the Norse, current forward Deante Johnson pulled down seven rebounds in 28 minutes as a reserve.
SCOUTING THE NORSE
The Northern Kentucky Norse come into this weekend's Horizon League series on a two-game winning streak, having taken down Purdue Fort Wayne last weekend, pouring in at least 70 points in each contest. With a 5-4 overall record, all of NKU's wins have come at home. The Norse are led by Trevon Faulkner's 16.7 points per game. Adrian Nelson is is averaging a team-best 6.3 rebounds per game, while Bryson Langdon is dishing out a team-high 3.6 assists per contest. Following this weekend, Northern Kentucky will be back at BB&T Arena for a two-game series against the IUPUI Jaguars.
RISING IN THE HORIZON (AS A TEAM)
Through six #HLMBB contest this season, the Vikings are ranked third in points allowed (67.3), third in margin of victory (8.2), second in field goal percentage (.505), fourth in defensive field goal percentage (.411) and second in steals per game (9.67).
RISING IN THE HORIZON (INDIVIDUALLY)
Through six #HLMBB contests, D'Moi Hodge is ranked 11th in scoring per game (16.8), sixth in three-pointer field goal percentage (.429) and first in steals per game (3.2). Tre Gomillion is ranked ninth in field goal percentage (.559). Torrey Patton ranks 18th in scoring (18.7) and 15th in rebounds (6.2), while Deante Johnson stands 12th in rebounds (6.8) and sixth in blocks (1.3).
OVERALL HORIZON LEAGUE RANKINGS
In total, both league games and non-conference games, D'Moi Hodge is 12th in scoring (15.1), seventh in field goal percentage (.473) and first in steals (2.6). Deante Johnson (6.9) and Torrey Patton (6.8) are 11th and 12th in rebounding, respectively, while Johnson is ranked first in blocked shots (1.6)
SWIPER NO SWIPING
In all of NCAA Divison I men's basketball, Cleveland State junior transfer D'Moi Hodge is ranked 10th in steals per game, swiping an average of 2.88 thefts per game.
TRE GOMILLION AKA MR. RELIABLE
Gomillion has started in every game of his Cleveland State career (41 starts). The junior has had a career season thus far, pouring in a career-high 23 points on a near-perfect 11-12 (.917) shooting from the floor on Dec. 27, 2020. His .917 shooting percentage puts the Augusta, Georgia, native in the record book, tying him with Jamal Jackson's .917 clip on 12/5/94 (also 11-12 from the field). Against Purdue Fort Wayne on Dec. 19, Gomillion contributed 16 points on a then-career-high 8-13 (.615) shooting from the floor.
UP NEXT
Cleveland State will travel to Wright State to take on the Raiders on Jan. 15 and 16. The Vikings' game on Friday, Jan. 15 will be broadcast nationally on ESPNU. Fans can listen to both games on 1420-WHK, 102.5 FM or www.whkradio.com with the Voice of Cleveland State men's basketball Al Pawlowski on the call.
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.
1985-86 CELEBRATION: ON THIS DATE, presented by HUNTINGTON BANK
On Saturday, Jan. 11, 1986, the Vikings took down Green Bay 76-59. The win marked Cleveland State's second win of a seven-game winning streak. The seven-game winning streak was only the second-longest winning streak that season, as the Vikes went on an incredible 14-game streak, which included two NCAA Tournament wins.
