Radio: NEO Sports
TV: ESPN+
SETTING THE SCENE
The Cleveland State men's basketball team returns home for a matchup with Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The game is part of Homecoming Week here at Cleveland State. The Vikings are back in the Wolstein Center for the first time since the season opener against Notre Dame College. Arkansas-Pine Bluff enters the contest 1-4. The Golden Lions are in the midst of a five game road swing in the early portion of the schedule. The game is also part of the Turkey Slam - Cleveland State Regional, as the Vikings will host Chicago State next Wednesday as part of a multi-team event.
REIGNING #HLMBB REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONS
The Vikings won their second consecutive #HLMBB Regular Season Championship last year. Cleveland State finished with a 15-6 record in conference play, including a 15-3 record at the Wolstein Center. Players and coaches from last year's team were honored prior to the regular season opener against Notre Dame College, as a banner was raised to the rafters to commemorate the Championship.
THE VIKINGS
Cleveland State returns five players from last year's regular season championship squad, and adds nine newcomers. Deante "Spider" Johnson leads the core of returners, Johnson was named to the Horizon League All-Defensive Team for the second straight year last season. Deshon Parker also returns after starting at the point guard spot in 29 of 31 games last season. Parker shot 51% from the floor last season.
GET TO KNOW THE NEWCOMERS
In addition to the five returning players, Cleveland State welcomes nine new faces to the roster in 2022-23. Among the new faces is Tristan Enaruna, a junior transfer hailing from Almere, Flevoland, Netherlands. Enaruna comes to CSU from Iowa State, where he averaged 4.3 points and 2.9 rebounds in his time with the Cyclones. Tae Williams is another newcomer to watch, as he comes to Cleveland following a great season at John A. Logan College in 2021-22. Williams averaged 12.3 points and 6.6 rebounds in 32 contests last season.
COACH ROBINSON ANNOUNCES COACHING STAFF
Head Coach Daniyal Robinson has assembled an experienced coaching staff in his first season at Cleveland State. Jermaine Henderson returns to CSU after previously serving as an assistant coach during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons under Gary Waters. Henderson most recently served as an assistant coach at Kan- sas State for the past five seasons. Travis Lewis is in his second season on staff at Cleveland State, after serving as Director of Video Operations under former head coach Dennis Gates last season. Jay Shunnar enters his first season as an assistant coach, after working in several capacities under John Belein at the University of Michigan and with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
VIKINGS WIN EXHIBITION OPENER OVER BALDWIN WALLACE 74-52
The Cleveland State Men's Basketball team took down Baldwin Wallace in an exhi- bition game at the Wolstein Center this past Thursday. The Vikings had a balanced offensive attack, with four players scoring in double figures. Tristan Enaruna led the way with a double-double, scoing 15 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. Jason Drake added 11 points, and Deshon Parker and Drew Louder rounded out the double figure scoring effort with 10 points each.
VIKINGS TAKE DOWN CANISIUS FOR FIRST WIN UNDER COACH ROBINSON
Cleveland State defeated Canisius on Wednesday night, 58-57 in Overtime to earn their first win of the season. Four of five Cleveland State starters scored in double figures, led by Tristan Enaruna who finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Cleveland State jumped out to a double digit lead in the first half, but had to survive a surge from Canisius in the second half. The game was tied at 53 at the end of regulation, and CSU outscored Canisius 5-4 in the extra session to earn the victory. The win is the first for Head Coach Daniyal Robinson in his career.
VIKINGS BATTLE, FALL SHORT AT CINCINNATI
Cleveland State dropped a tough one to Cincinnati at the Bearcats' Fifth Third Arena on Thursday night. The Vikings hung tough throughout, and had the lead in the second half before a late Cincinnati run put the game away. Tristan Enaruna led the way with 15 points, his second straight game in double figures, and Deante Johnson added 12 and 6 rebounds.
VIKINGS FALL SHORT AT OHIO
Cleveland State battled but fell short at Ohio over the weekend, falling 81-70 at Ohio's Convocation Center. The game was tight throughout the first half, until Cleveland State point guard Deshon Parker picked up his second foul with just under five minutes to play in the half. Parker sat the rest of the way, and Ohio scored 13 unanswered points to head into halftime with an eight point advantage, which improved to double digits and remained there throughout the second half. The Vikings were led by Yahel Hill, who poured in a career-high 20 points, 14 of which came after halftime.
ENARUNA IMPRESSIVE TO START 2022-23
Transfer forward Tristan Enaruna has gotten off to a good start in his first three games in a Viking uniform. Enaruna had a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds in the opener against Notre Dame College, and followed that up with another double figure scoring performance with 15 against Cincinnati. He added a second double-double performance in Wednesday's game at Canisius, scoring 15 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Through four games, he is averaging 14 points and 8 rebounds, while shooting at a 41% clip from the field.
PARKER DROPPING DIMES
Deshon Parker has been a great facilitator for Cleveland State through the first four games of the regular season. Parker has totaled 29 assists so far this season. He had a career-high 11 in the opener against Notre Dame College. His average of 7.3 assists per game ranks first in the Horizon League and 14th nationally. He has also committed just five turnovers, for a 5.8 assist-to-turnover ratio, which also leads the Horizon League.
UP NEXT
Cleveland State continues the Turkey Slam - Cleveland State MTE with home game against Chicago State on November 23rd.
