Detroit, MI-The Cleveland State men's basketball team picked up its second-straight victory and its third in the last four games in defeating Detroit Mercy at Calihan Hall by a final score of 77-65. The Vikings improve to 14-9 overall and 7-5 in the Horizon League. Detroit Mercy falls to 0-23 and 0-12 in league play.
The Vikings led for over 28 of the game's 40 minutes. The game was tightly contested for the majority of the first half before the Vikings took the lead for good with just under six minutes remaining. Cleveland State held off several comeback attempts from the Titans and pulled away late to seal the victory.
Tristan Enaruna registered his third consecutive game with 27 points or more, finishing with an even 27 on the night. Enaruna finished 11-of-19 from the field and sank all four of his free throw attempts. He added seven rebounds, three blocked shots, an assist and a steal in 38 minutes of action.
Jayson Woodrich was the other Viking in double figures, finishing with 10 points. Woodrich finished 4-of-12 from the field and connected on two three-point attempts, with all of his points coming in the first half.
The host Titans came out strong in search of their first victory of the season. Detroit Mercy scored 10 of the game's first 14 points to open up its largest lead of six points with 16:58 to go in the first half.
The Vikings responded by scoring six consecutive points to tie the score at 10 headed into the first media timeout of the game.
The two teams went back and forth over the next ten minutes of game action before Cleveland State caught fire late in the first half. Woodrich connected on a three-pointer and a mid-range jump shot to break a 24-all tie and give Cleveland State a five-point advantage with 4:56 to go in the opening half.
Enaruna followed by sinking a turnaround jumper a few minutes later to stretch the Viking lead to double digits for the first time. Cleveland State carried a 40-30 lead into the halftime locker room.
Cleveland State stretched its lead coming out of the halftime locker room with Dylan Arnett throwing down a two-handed dunk to give the Vikings their largest lead of 14 points with 16:32 remaining, it was 47-33 CSU.
Detroit Mercy would not go away, as the Titans responded with a 14-2 run over the next four minutes to cut the Viking lead to two with 12:13 remaining.
The Titans cut the lead to one possession several times over the next seven minutes, but each time Cleveland State had an answer. The Vikings eventually seized control late, when Jalin Rice ripped down an offensive rebound off a missed three-pointer and banked in a fallaway jumper to push the lead back to double digits with 2:38 to go at 70-60.
Cleveland State finished with a 49 percent clip from the field (31-63) and sank 10-of-11 free throws in the contest.
The Vikings will remain in the State of Michigan for a battle with Oakland on Saturday afternoon. The matchup with the Golden Grizzlies tips off at 1:00 p.m. from the O'Rena.
