Game 31 - Cleveland State vs. IUPUI
Cleveland State Game Notes | IUPUI Game Notes
Wolstein Center - Cleveland, OH
6:00 p.m.
All-Time vs.IUPUI: 10-4
Last Meeting: 12/31/23 86-77 W
Tickets: csuvikings.com
Radio: WTAM 1100 AM
Play-By-Play: Al Pawlowski
TV: ESPN+
Play-By-Play: Al Pawlowski
SETTING THE SCENE
The Cleveland State Men's Basketball team plays its final game of the 2023-24 regular season on Saturday as the Vikings celebrate Senior Night against IUPUI. The Vikings are looking to close the season on a high note and gain ground in the Horizon League standings headed into next week's Barbasol Horizon League Tournament. Cleveland State will be the seventh seed in the tournament with a victory on Saturday. IUPUI is 6-24 overall and 2-17 in the Horizon League and have dropped ten in a row headed into Saturday's contest.
THE CLEVELAND STATE/IUPUI SERIES
Wednesday's game marks the 15th all-time meeting between Cleveland State and IUPUI. The Vikings lead the all-time series by a 10-4 margin and have won the last nine in a row in the series. Cleveland State took the first matchup between the two teams this season on New Year's Eve by an 86-77 margin. The Vikings held a double-digit lead before IUPUI came roaring back in the second half, eventually taking the lead with just over four minutes remaining. The Vikings closed strong and made their free throws down the stretch to salt the game away. Jayson Woodrich led the way with 23 points and Tristan Enaruna added 18 in the win.
CLEVELAND STATE DOWNS ROBERT MORRIS FOR TENTH #HLMBB WIN
Cleveland State defeated Robert Morris on the road on Sunday afternoon to claim its tenth league victory and improve to 10-8 in Horizon League competiton. The Vikings held a double-digit lead at the half before a furious RMU comeback eventually evened the score in the final minutes. Drew Lowder made a driving layup with one second remaining to secure the 73-71 road victory. Tristan Enaruna tallied 24 points and Tae Williams finished with 15. Lowder added 10 including the game-winner.
CLEVELAND STATE PICKS UP COMEBACK WIN OVER YOUNGSTOWN STATE
Cleveland State defeated Youngstown State on Saturday afternoon by a final score of 81-73 thanks to a monster game from Tristan Enaruna and several key second half surges. The Vikings trailed by four at the break and by as many as eight early in the second half before a late surge propelled them to victory. Enaruna finished one shy of a career high with 31 points, and Tae Williams added 18 with 10 coming in the second half.
SCOUTING THE JAGUARS
IUPUI is 6-24 and 2-17 in the Horizon League coming into Saturday's matchup. The Jaguars have dropped ten straight and are looking to right the ship as the regular season comes to a close. The Jaguars are led by preseason all-league nominee Jlynn Counter who averages 14.4 points per game. Counter is one of two Jaguars who average in double figures alongside Bryce Monroe. Matt Crenshaw is in his third season as the head coach and is back at his alma mater after playing for the Jaguars in the early 2000s.
CLEVELAND STATE EARNS ROAD VICTORY AT PURDUE FORT WAYNE
Cleveland State defeated Purdue Fort Wayne on Wednesday night 75-72 to earn its fourth road victory and second in three games. The Vikings came from 11 points down in the second half to earn a come-from-behind win. Tristan Enaruna struck for 24 points, his fifth consecutive game with 23 or more, to lead the way for the Vikings. Drew Lowder was critical to the second half comeback, scoring all 20 of his points after halftime including connecting on seven of nine field goal attempts in the second half.
CLEVELAND STATE EARNS COMEBACK WIN OVER ROBERT MORRIS
Cleveland State defeated Robert Morris on Sunday afternoon at the Wolstein Center to move to 6-5 in league play. The Vikings earned a comeback win after trailing for a majority of the second half before a late charge put Cleveland State ahead and allowed the Vikings to hold off RMU for a two-point win, 66-64. Tristan Enaruna recorded his second consecutive game of 28 points, finishing 11-19 from the field and a perfect 5-of-5 from the free throw line. Jayson Woodrich came off the bench and provided a critical offensive spark, hitting two key three-pointers early in the second half en route to a 12-point performance.
CLEVELAND STATE EARNS ROAD VICTORY AT DETROIT MERCY
Cleveland State defeated Detroit Mercy on Thursday night for just the sixth time in series history at Calihan Hall, and the first time since 2020. The Vikings prevailed 77-65 and moved to 7-5 in Horizon League competition. Cleveland State got 27 points from Tristan Enaruna, who recorded his third-straight game with 27-or more points, and 10 points off the bench from Jayson Woodrich. The Vikings built a double-digit lead at halftime and held off the pesky Titans in the second half to come away with their third road victory of the 2023-24 season.
HOME SWEET HOME
Cleveland State has made a habit of protecting its home court throughout the last two seasons. The Vikings are 12-3 at home this season and have a 25-6 overall record in Cleveland in the Daniyal Robinson era. Cleveland State is outscoring opponents by over 10 points per game in home contests this season.
GOING TO THE OFFENSIVE GLASS
Through the Horizon League season, the Vikings have been one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the conference. Cleveland State ranks fourth in the league in offensive rebounding, averaging 12.6 offensive rebounds per contest in league play.
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.
ENARUNA LEADING THE WAY
Tristan Enaruna has been on a tear of late, registering ten straight games and 13 of his last 14 above 20 points in scoring. Enaruna currently ranks fourth in the Horizon League averaging 20.2 points per game in conference play. The fifth-year senior also ranks among the top-15 in the league in rebounds, assists and steals. Over the last five games, Enaruna is averaging just under 25 points and eight rebounds per contest while shooting at a 48 percent clip from the field and an 81 percent mark from the free throw line.
DREW LOWDER NAMED #HLMBB PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Following a 26-point night against Bradley on Friday, senior guard Drew Lowder was named the Horizon League Men's Basketball Player of the Week, the league office announced on Monday. Lowder finished one point shy of his career high, set in the season opener at Duquesne, and tied his career best with six three-pointers in nine attempts. He also registered a career-high four steals. Lowder helped ignite the Vikings down the stretch, as he scored five points as part of the closing 12-0 run that secured the victory. Lowder hit the game-tying three-pointer with 3:23 remaining and the Vikings led for good after that point. This is Lowder's first league player of the week award.
UP NEXT
Cleveland State will host a game in the Barbasol Horizon League Basketball Tournament on Tuesday against an opponent to be determined. The game tips off at 7:00 p.m. With a win the Vikings would move on to the Quarterfinal Round on Thursday, March 7 on the road. Tickets for Tuesday's game are on sale now and can be purchased in advance for just $6.
