Game 2 - Defiance vs. Cleveland State
Cleveland State Game Notes | Defiance Game Notes
Wolstein Center, Cleveland, OH
All-Time vs. Defifiance: First Meeting
Last Meeting: N/A
Tickets: csuvikings.com
Radio: 1350 AM The Gambler
Play-By-Play: Al Pawlowski, Pat Vuyancih, Ed Daugherty(Host)
TV: ESPN+
Play-By-Play: Al Pawlowski, Pat Vuyancih
SETTING THE SCENE
The Cleveland State Men's Basketball team returns home for the second game of the 2023-24 regular season and the regular season home opener at the Wolstein Center. The Vikings posted a strong showing in Monday's season opener at Duquesne, fall- ing 79-77 in a back-and-forth battle on the road. Defiance is playing its first game of the season, and the game will be an exhibition for the Yellow Jackets, who compete in the NCAA Division III Heartland Conference. Defiance features a young roster with just one senior were picked last in the Heartland Conference Preseason Poll.
THE CLEVELAND STATE/DEFIANCE SERIES
Wednesday's contest marks the first ever meeting between the two teams. Cleveland State is the only Division I opponent on Defiance's schedule this season. Defiance is one of two non-DI opponents for the Vikings, in addition to last week's exhibition game against Baldwin Wallace.
CLEVELAND STATE COMES UP JUST SHORT AT DUQUESNE
Cleveland State put up a great fight in its season opener Monday night at Duquesne, falling 79-77 at the Dukes' UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse. The Vikings and Dukes were neck and neck the entire way, with neither team holding more than a five-point ad- vantage throughout the entire game. The game featured 13 lead changes and 13 ties. The Vikings had an opportunity to tie or win the game on the final posession, but a 20-foot jump shot was off the mark at the buzzer. Three Vikings finished in double figures, let by Drew Lowder with 27 points.
CAREER NIGHT FOR DREW LOWDER
Drew Lowder set multiple career highs in Monday's game. Lowder finished with 27 points which was a new all-time career high. Lowder finished 9-16 from the field in the game and connected on six of nine from behind the three-point arc. The six triples also set a new career best.
SCOUTING THE YELLOW JACKETS
Defiance is set for their first action of the 2023-24 season. Head Coach Josh Gibson is in his third season in charge of the program and brings a young roster into the season. Defiance has just one senior and five total uperclassmen on the roster. The Yellow Jackets were picked last in the Heartland Conference Preseason Poll.
DANIYAL ROBINSON ACHIEVES RECORD-SETTING FIRST SEASON
Cleveland State head coach Daniyal Robinson set a new school record in his first season in charge of the program. Robinson and the Vikings recorded 21 wins in 2022-23, which is the most wins of any first-year head coach in school history. Cleveland State finished as the runner-up in the Horizon League Tournament and made the program's third-straight postseason appearance, earning a trip to the CBI. Should the Vikings reach the postseason this year, it would be the first time in school history that CSU has reached the postseason four consecutive years.
VIKINGS PICKED FOURTH IN #HLMBB PRESEASON POLL
Cleveland State was picked to finish fourth in the Horizon League Men's Basketball Preseason Poll following a vote amongst league head coaches, media members and Sports Information Directors from the league's 11 participating schools. Cleveland State received one first-place vote and finished with 362 points. In addition, senior forward Tristan Enaruna was named to the all-league first team after averaging 15.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game last season.
RETURNERS PACK A PUNCH
Cleveland State returns a majority of the scoring and rebounding from last season's 21-win squad. The Vikings return 62 percent of the scoring and 51 percent of the rebounding from 2022-23. Cleveland State returns its top three scorers and two of its top three rebounders. In the scoring department, Tristan Enaruna led the way at 15.6 points per game, followed by Tae Williams who also averaged double figures at 11.1 points per contest. Senior guard Drew Lowder returns after averaging 9.8 points per game last season. Enaruna and Williams will provide a steady presence on the glass, as the two combined to average 12.5 rebounds per game in 2022-23.
NEW FACES
Seven newcomers will suit up in the green and white for the first time in 2023-24. The roster includes six transfer student-athletes and one freshman. The group features junior transfer guards Tevin Smith and Jalin Rice, who will see action on the wings, and junior transfer forwards KJ Debrick and Dok Muordar who will add to the depth in the post. Junior Chase Robinson was on the roster last season, but will make his debut after sitting out last year due to transer protocol. Fifth- year senior TJ Moss will provide verteran experience, and local product Danny Young(Shaker Heights), is the lone freshman addition.
CHALLENGING NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE AWAITS IN 2023-24
Head Coach Daniyal Robinson has assembled a challenging non-conference schedule in his second season in charge of the program. Monday's opener at Duquesne was one of four in which the Vikings will face off with a team that won 20 or more games and played in the postseason. Cleveland State will face two teams that appeared in the NCAA Tournament last season, with road matchups scheduled at St. Mary's (Dec. 5) and at Kent State (Dec. 9). Duquesne (CBI) and Bradley (NIT) also made postseason appearances last year.
VIKINGS CRUISE TO 96-48 EXHIBITION WIN OVER BALDWIN WALLACE
Cleveland State saw its first action of 2023-24 with an exhibition victory over Bald- win Wallace, 96-48, at the Wolstein Center Thursday night. The Vikings jumped out to an early 20-point lead and never looked back. The Vikings locked down defensively coming out of the halftime locker room, holding BW to just six points in the first ten minutes of the second half. Five Vikings scored in double figures led by Tae Williams who finished with 18 points. Williams was a stellar 8-10 from the field on the night. This marked the second consecutive year that the Vikings have recorded an exhibition victory over Baldwin Wallace.
ENARUNA EARNS OLYMPIC EXPERIENCE
Preseason all-league first-team honoree Tristan Enaruna earned valuable playing experience over the summer, competing as a member of the Netherlands Olympic National Team in the 2023 FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament. Enaruna, who hails from Almere, was one of four Division I players on the Netherlands roster and the only player from a non-Power Five institution. The tournament featured several European nations competing for qualifying spots on the road to the 2024 Olympic Basketball Tournament scheduled to be held in Paris, France.
UP NEXT
Cleveland State continues a three-game home stretch with a Saturday evening matchup against Ohio University. The game will be the annual Cleveland State Homecoming game in collaboration with the CSU Alumni Association. Tip off is slated for 6:00 p.m.
