Cleveland State vs. Detroit Mercy
Friday, Feb. 12 | 9 p.m.
Wolstein Center | Cleveland, Ohio
Presented by Cleveland Clinic Sports Medicine
Watch | Audio | Live Stats
Game Notes
Cleveland State vs. Detroit Mercy
Saturday, Feb. 13 | 7 p.m.
Wolstein Center | Cleveland, Ohio
Presented by Cleveland Clinic Sports Medicine
Watch | Audio | Live Stats
Game Notes
SETTING THE SCENE
The Cleveland State men's basketball team concludes their regular season home slate riding a four-game winning streak following last weekend's sweep over Oakland, the Vikings' sixth #HLMBB two-game sweep over an opponent. Cleveland State, which sits atop the Horizon League standings by a one-game margin, took down the Golden Grizzlies 80-72 on Friday night thanks to a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double by Torrey Patton. The Vikings wrapped up the series with a narrow 80-78 victory that saw D'Moi Hodge net a game-high 20 points and Deante Johnson log a game-clinching steal in the final seconds.
A WIN ON FRIDAY WOULD…
Give the Vikings their third consecutive win over Detroit Mercy following a two-game season sweep of the Titans last year. It would also mark Cleveland State's eighth win in nine games at the Wolstein Center, keep the Vikings in first place in the Horizon League and match the 1992-93 squad for most conference wins in a single season (15).
THE CLEVELAND STATE/DETROIT MERCY SERIES
Cleveland State has split its last four matchups against Detroit Mercy, but it has won its last two contests against the Titans. The last time these two sides met, Algevon Eichelberger and Torrey Patton combined for 30 points in a 67-66 overtime win at Calihan Hall in Detroit, Michigan.
RISING IN THE HORIZON (AS A TEAM)
Through 16 #HLMBB contest this season, the Vikings are first in steals (8.44) and defensive three-point percentage (.285) and second in defensive field goal percentage (.409), points allowed (67.3), scoring margin (4.1) and turnover margin (1.69).
RISING IN THE HORIZON (INDIVIDUALLY)
Through 16 #HLMBB contests this season, Torrey Patton is ranked eighth in rebounds per game (7.4), 9th in field goal percentage (.472) and 18th in scoring (14.1). Deante Johnson is ranked fourth in blocks (1.2) and 17th in rebounds per game (5.6).
OVERALL HORIZON LEAGUE RANKINGS
Torrey Patton is ranked eighth in rebounds (7.5) and tied for seventh in double-doubles (3) while Deante Johnson is third in blocks (1.3) and 14th in rebounds (6.1) and D'Moi Hodge is fifth in steals per game (1.7).
UNDEFEATED IN #HLMBB PLAY
For the first time ever, Cleveland State began the Horizon League season winning its first nine games. Overall, the Vikings have won 14 of 16 HL contests.
MAKING HISTORY
With their win over Oakland last Saturday, the Vikings notched their most wins in league play since a 15-1 run as a member of the Mid-Continent Conference during the 1992-93 season. As it stands, Cleveland State has already logged more Horizon League wins this season than any other since joining the conference in 1994. With four games remaining, the Vikings have an opportunity to set a new program mark for single-season conference victories.
BRING OUT THE BROOMS
The Vikings recorded their sixth #HLMBB two-game sweep of the season last weekend. That stretch features sweeps of Green Bay, which marked only the second time Cleveland State has swept the season series against the Phoenix since the 2011-12 campaign, as well as Northern Kentucky, whom the Vikings had not swept since the 2015-16 season. Cleveland State has also logged a sweep over Oakland, which had not occurred since the 2013-14 campaign.
HEATING UP
The Vikings struggled from behind the arc early in the season, but the squad has found its rhythym over the last several weeks. Since Jan. 23, Cleveland State is shooting the three-ball at a .396 (38-96) clip, including a 9-18 performance in a 74-68 win over Green Bay on Jan. 30. The Vikings have risen to sixth in three-point percentage (.337) in Horizon League play.
HE CAN'T MISS
Deante Johnson has been the most efficient Viking this year thanks to his prowess in the paint, shooting a career-best .605 (53-87) from the field. If he had enough attempts to qualify, Johnson would rank second in the HL in field goal percentage behind only Wright State's Grant Basile (.611). The junior has shot 20-29 (.690) over his last five contests.
TRE GOMILLION AKA MR. RELIABLE
Gomillion has started in every game of his Cleveland State career (51 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.
PATTON POURING IN THE POINTS
Senior Torrey Patton poured in 10 or more points in a career-high nine-straight contests (Dec. 13-Jan. 16). Over those nine games, all wins for the Vikes, Patton averaged 15.2 points per contest. His previous longest 10-plus streak was last season (six straight games). Over those nine games, Patton notched a season-high 19 points in a come-from-behind win over Youngstown State (Dec. 27). Overall, Patton has logged double-digit points in 14 of 16 Horizon League games and owns a team-high three double-doubles. Patton hit the 20-point plateau for the first time this season with a 21-point, 10-rebound effort against Oakland on Feb. 5
NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
Cleveland State will appear on ESPNU on Feb. 12 against Detroit Mercy, their third nationally televised contest. The Vikings faced off against Wright State on ESPNU on Friday, Jan. 15, marking the team's first regular season game on an ESPN linear network since the 2014-15 season. Cleveland State appeared on an ESPN linear network three times that season: Feb. 13 at Detroit Mercy (ESPNU), Feb. 20 at Green Bay (ESPN2) and Feb. 27 vs. Valparaiso (ESPNU).
UP NEXT
Cleveland State will hit the road to close out regular season #HLMBB play with a two-game set against Purdue Fort Wayne (Feb. 19, Feb. 20). Tipoff times for Friday and Saturday are set for 7 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively. Both contests will be broadcast on an ESPN streaming platform, as well as on 1420-WHK, 102.5 FM and whkradio.com.
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.
