Rochester, MI-The Cleveland State Men's Basketball team dropped a tough one on Saturday afternoon, falling to Oakland 92-89 in overtime.
The Vikings led for over 25 minutes and had control late in the game, but Oakland mounted a late comeback to tie the score and prevailed in the extra session.
Both teams were able to get to the free throw line. The Vikings finished 17-22 from the line (.773). The Grizzlies finished 34-39 (.872) for a 34-17 edge in made free throws.
Four Vikings finished in double figures, led by Tristan Enaruna who finished with a new season high of 25 points. Enaruna finished 11-18 from the floor and added eight rebounds. Enaruna also tied a season high with five assists in the game.
Jayson Woodrich tied his career high with 17 points. Woodrich finished 4-5 from three-point range, accounting for half of the Vikings' eight made three-pointers.
Yahel Hill finished with 13 points, his second double-figure scoring effort in four games. Hill connected on multiple three-point attempts and finished five of six at the charity stripe.
Deshon Parker also finished with 13 points and added seven rebounds. Parker finished a perfect four of four from the free throw line.
Oakland got off to a fast start, scoring 11 of the game's first 14 points. Cleveland State slowly chipped away, and the Vikings eventually jumped back in front with a little under five minutes to play in the first half. A Hill three-pointer at the 4:48 mark made it 21-18 Vikings.
The Vikings finished the first half strong, carrying a 36-28 lead into the locker room.
The lead grew to double-digits early in the second half. Cleveland State led by as many as 16 following a Drew Lowder layup with 11:28 left to play.
The Vikings led by 11 with 3:27 left when Oakland mounted a late charge. The Grizzlies went on an 8-0 run over the next two minutes to cut the lead to three, 76-73 with 1:27 left in regulation.
An Enaruna three from long range appeared to put the Vikings back in control with under 30 seconds to play, but back-to-back threes from Oakland's Blake Lampman cut it back to a two-point game with 11 seconds left.
On the ensuing inbounds pass, a turnover led to a Cleveland State foul, putting Oakland's Keyton Hervey at the free throw line. Hervey made both free throw attempts to tie the game at 82, sending it to overtime.
In the extra session, the Vikings briefly took the lead 85-84 a little over a minute in, but Oakland was able to respond with two straight perfect trips at the free throw line to take a three-point lead.
Cleveland State twice cut the deficit to one but were unable to find the go-ahead basket down the stretch. The Grizzlies made their free throws as the clock wound down to hold on for the overtime victory.
Cleveland State is back in action on Friday, February 10th as the Vikings return to the Wolstein Center to host Robert Morris. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
