GAME #1
Cleveland State at BYU
Tuesday, November 9 | 10:00 p.m. EST | Provo, Utah
Live Stats | Live Video | CSU Game Notes
SETTING THE SCENE
The Cleveland State men's basketball team will officially kick off the 2021-22 season this week, traveling to BYU for a 10:00 p.m. EST contest on Tuesday, November 9. The Vikings will open their 57th season of Cleveland State basketball, and their third under head coach Dennis Gates.
A WIN ON TUESDAY WOULD…
Mark the first season opening win for the Vikings under head coach Dennis Gates…Put the Vikings at 1-0 against BYU all-time…Improve Cleveland State to 31-29 during Dennis Gates' tenure.
THE CLEVELAND STATE/BYU SERIES
Tuesday's game will mark the first meeting between the two teams. This will be the first of three first-time opponents for the Vikings this season.
SCOUTING THE COUGARS
BYU enters the 2021-22 season under the direction of third-year head coach Mark Pope, and returns eight players from last year's NCAA Tournament team that went 20-7 overall…The Cougars, who were picked to finish second in the West Coast Conference preseaon poll, also welcome nine newcomers for the upcoming season…The BYU duo of Alex Barcello and Caleb Lohner both earned a spot on the All-WCC Preseason Team…BYU hosted Colorado Christian in its lone exhibition of the season last week, picking up a 63-45 victory including a team-high 16 points from Barcello.
REIGNING #HLMBB CHAMPIONS
The Vikings will start the 2021-22 campaign as the reigning Horizon League Regular Season and Tournament Champions, after capturing both titles last season. Cleveland State finished regular season play with a 16-4 league record, marking the most wins in league play in program history (previously 15, 1992-93 season). This also marked the fifth time that CSU finished at the top of the league standings, including the second time during the Horizon League era.
Cleveland State's #HLMBB Tournament championship came after a trio of wins against Purdue Fort Wayne, Milwaukee and Oakland, earning the team's third trip to the NCAA Tournament and first since the 2008-09 season.
THE 2021-22 CAMPAIGN
Tuesday's game at BYU will mark the start of a nine-game non-league slate for the Vikings, and the first of 15 total road games on the year for Cleveland State. Following Tuesday's contest against the Cougars, the Vikings will return to the Wolstein Center for the remainder of the month, as Cleveland State will play five of its 16 home games on the year during the month of November.
THE VIKINGS
Cleveland State returns 14 letterwinners from last season's #HLMBB Championship squad, including the starting rotation of Craig Beaudion, Tre Gomillion, D'Moi Hodge, Deante Johnson, and Torrey Patton. This returning core will be joined by four transfers and one freshman for the upcoming season, giving head coach Dennis Gates a well-rounded roster for the 2021-22 campaign.
…HEAD COACH DENNIS GATES
The Vikings will be under the direction of third-year head coach and reigning back-to-back #HLMBB Coach of the Year Dennis Gates. Through his first two seasons, Gates has led the Vikings to a 30-29 overall reecord, including a 19-8 mark last season when the Vikings captured the Horizon League Tournament title and earned the program's third trip to the NCAA Tournament.
CLEVELAND STATE TABBED #HLMBB PRESEASON FAVORITES
Last month the Vikings were selected as the favorites in the Horizon League Preseason Poll - picking up 502 points along with 30 first place votes. Last season, the Vikings finished regular season play with a 16-4 record to clinch the top seed in the #HLMBB Tournament where they picked up a trio of wins against Purdue Fort Wayne, Milwaukee and Oakland to claim the 2020-21 Horizon League Championship. In addition to the Vikings, Wright State (9), Northern Kentucky (1), Milwaukee (2), and Detroit Mercy (2) also picked up first place votes in this year's poll.
PATTON NAMED #HLMBB PRESEASON FIRST TEAM
Senior Torrey Patton earned a spot on the #HLMBB Preseason All-League First Team, which was announced in conjunction with the preseason poll last month. Patton returns after a 2020-21 season in which he averaged 14.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game, and earned All-League First Team accolades.
UP NEXT
Cleveland State will host its first regular season home game on Saturday, November 13, welcoming Ohio to the Wolstein Center for a 7:00 p.m. contest.
