Cleveland, OH-The Cleveland State men's basketball team saw its 18-game home winning streak snapped on Thursday night as the Vikings dropped a 107-99 decision to Wright State in Overtime at the Wolstein Center. The loss drops the Vikings to 12-9 overall and 5-5 in Horizon League play. Wright State improves to 11-10 and 6-4 in league play.
The Vikings led for the overwhelming majority of the game, including by double digits with just over six minutes to play in regulation, before Wright State stormed back to draw even in the game's final seconds. Cleveland State had a chance to win the game in regulation with the ball in hand and nine seconds to go, but a three-point attempt at the buzzer was off the mark. Wright State won the extra session 20-12 to claim the eight-point victory.
Tristan Enaruna led a balanced attack with five players finishing in double figures for the Vikings. Enaruna finished 8-of-17 from the field and drew a game-high 11 fouls, resulting in 14 free throw attempts. Enaruna finished 11-of-14 from the charity stripe, setting new career bests in both categories.
Tae Williams finished with 22 points and Drew Lowder added 17. Williams finished one rebound shy of a double-double, grabbing nine boards. Lowder recorded three of Cleveland State's five made three-point field goals in the game. Tevin Smith and Chase Robinson each provided double figure scoring performances off the bench, with both finishing with 11 points each.
Cleveland State dominated in the paint, outscoring WSU 60-36 in that category. The Vikings outrebounded the Raiders 39-33.
Cleveland State seized control early on, jumping out to a 12-9 lead at the first media timeout. Wright State kept the margin tight throughout the half, but each time the Raiders got close, the Vikings had an answer.
Cleveland State widened the gap late in the half. The Vikings ended the opening half on a 12-4 run to open up a double-digit lead headed into the break. Cleveland State led 48-36 at the half.
Cleveland State kept its lead through the majority of the second half. Wright State cut the lead to six on several occasions, but the Vikings responded each time to keep the margin from getting any closer. A Smith steal and dunk at the 6:39 mark gave Cleveland State a 10-point advantage and ignited the Wolstein Center crowd.
The fast-break bucket appeared to put the Vikings in the driver's seat down the stretch, but Wright State responded and quickly turned the momentum towards the visitors. The Raiders went on a 12-2 run over the next three-plus minutes of game time to tie the score at 79 with 3:07 remaining.
An Alex Huibregtse jumper at the 1:54 mark gave Wright State its first lead of the game, 81-80. Huibregtse finished with 32 points, a career-high by a wide margin, to lead all scorers.
Cleveland State responded with back-to-back buckets from Williams and Robinson to take a three-point lead, 84-81 with 1:12 remaining.
The two teams traded baskets on the next possessions, keeping the margin at three points with 37 seconds left.
A foul on Enaruna sent Wright State to the free throw line with 26 seconds to go. Drey Carter made the first and missed the second, but a foul on the rebound on Cleveland State's Dylan Arnett sent WSU's Tanner Holden back to the charity stripe. Holden converted on one of two which cut the Viking lead to one with 25 seconds left in regulation.
With the shot clock turned off, Cleveland State advanced the ball over half court where Jayson Woodrich was promptly fouled with 18 seconds left. Woodrich made one of two at the free throw line to expand the lead to two, 87-85.
Wright State rebounded the free throw miss, and Huibregtse nailed a short jumper with nine seconds to play to tie the score at 87. Lowder's three-point attempt at the final buzzer was off target, sending the game to OT.
A four-point play from Preseason League Player of the Year Trey Calvin gave Wright State an early lead in overtime, and the Raiders never trailed the rest of the way.
Cleveland State returns to the Wolstein Center on Sunday afternoon to take on Robert Morris. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
