Cleveland, OH-It was another down-to-the-wire nail biter between Cleveland State and Northern Kentucky on Sunday afternoon, as the Vikings defeated the Norse 88-85 in overtime to move to 11-6 overall and 4-2 in Horizon League play. This is the fourth consecutive matchup between the two squads that has been decided by three points or less. The two teams are dead even, 2-2 in those games, with one more regular season meeting upcoming in late February. NKU falls to 8-8 overall and 3-2 in league play.
Cleveland State led for the majority of the contest, including by double digits early in the second half. The Vikings led for over 40 of the game's 45 minutes. NKU mounted a furious charge late in the second half, ultimately forcing the extra session thanks to a three-pointer at the buzzer that tied the score. Cleveland State took an early lead in overtime and held on thanks to key baskets and strong free throw shooting in the final minutes.
The Vikings finished the game with five players in double figures in a balanced offensive attack. Tristan Enaruna led the way with a double-double, pouring in 24 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Seven of those rebounds came on the offensive end. The double-double is the fifth of the season for the senior forward.
Jayson Woodrich finished with 18 points, including the go-ahead three-pointer in the final seconds of overtime. Woodrich finished with four of CSU's seven made three-pointers in the game. This is the fourth time in the last five games that Woodrich has scored in double figures.
Tae Williams recorded his second double-double of the season finishing with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Williams connected on 5-of-11 from the field and finished with six offensive rebounds.
Drew Lowder added 12 points and Tevin Smith finished with 11. Both were stellar from the charity stripe, with Lowder finishing a perfect 4-of-4 and Smith going 7-for-8. Smith scored in double figures for the fourth time this season, and the third time in the last four games.
The Vikings got off to a hot start, with an Enaruna bucket and a Woodrich three-pointer giving Cleveland State an early 5-0 lead one minute into the contest. NKU fought back to tie it at 8 apiece with 15:28 remaining in the first half, before a 7-1 Cleveland State run was capped by a Chase Robinson layup, giving the Vikings a 15-9 edge with a little over 13 minutes remaining in the opening half.
The two teams went cold from the field through the midway portion of the first half. The two teams combined for a six-minute scoreless drought before NKU's Marques Warrick drained a free throw with 5:57 remaining in the half.
Cleveland State held the lead for the rest of the first half, but NKU kept the game close. Each time the Vikings would stretch the lead to two possessions, NKU responded to narrow the margin. Cleveland State created some slight separation as Enaruna nailed a jumper with under a minute to go which gave CSU a six-point lead at the break at 30-24.
The Vikings came out strong in the second half, expanding the lead to double digits in the early going. A three-pointer from Woodrich at the 14:11 mark put CSU up 11 at 46-35.
Over the next eight minutes, NKU methodically chipped away at the Viking lead. A bucket at the 6:39 mark tied the score at 55 and a Warrick three on the ensuing possession gave NKU a three-point lead with just over six minutes remaining.
Cleveland State quickly erased the deficit and it appeared the Vikings were in control in the final minutes. Williams leaked out ahead of the pack off an NKU turnover and threw down a two-handed dunk that gave the Vikings a five-point lead with 2:12 remaining.
NKU narrowed the margin to one on a Warrick layup with 1:12 remaining. Woodrich was then fouled on a three-point attempt on the next possession and sank two of three free throws to put Cleveland State ahead by three with 52 seconds remaining.
The two teams traded possessions down the stretch, with NKU striking for quick two-point field goals and Cleveland State sinking free throws to keep the lead. Tevin Smith sank both from the charity stripe to give the Vikings a 73-70 lead with nine seconds remaining. Warrick banked in a fadeaway three from the left wing at the final buzzer to tie the score and send the game to overtime.
In the extra session the two teams traded runs. Cleveland State started on a 7-1 run to open up a six-point lead just under halfway into the five-minute period. NKU responded with a 6-0 run to tie the score once again at 81 with 1:34 left.
The two teams traded baskets to keep the score tied at 83 with under a minute to go. Woodrich missed a three-pointer with 27 seconds left but Smith grabbed a key offensive rebound to keep the possession alive. After a Cleveland State timeout, Woodrich did not miss the second time around, nailing the go-ahead three-pointer with 16 seconds remaining that put the Vikings ahead 86-83.
Cleveland State fouled NKU on the next possession to keep the Norse from attempting a game-tying three-pointer. Warrick sank two at the line and Woodrich followed with two at the other end to make it 88-85 CSU.
Smith then blocked Warrick's three-point attempt at the buzzer to end it. Cleveland State held a decisive advantage on the glass, out-rebounding NKU 47-37. The Vikings also finished at 74 percent from the charity stripe.
Cleveland State hits the road next week for two games in Wisconsin, starting with a matchup at Milwaukee on Friday, January 12 at 8:00 p.m.
