Jan. 31, 2002
Call it a major heist.
The Cleveland State men's basketball team pilfered visiting Loyola Chicago for a season-high 19 steals Thursday night as the Vikings snapped a four-game skid by dumping the Ramblers 81-60 at Goodman Arena.
Theo Dixon (4), Jamaal Harris (4) and Walt Chavis (3) all equalled their career highs in the steal department.
"It was sort of a breakout game for us," said Head Coach Rollie Massimino. "We practiced very hard and did a lot of good things this week. Our energy level was terrific."
CSU came out firing in the first half, hitting 15-of-29 (52%). But it was the Vikings' defense that controlled the first frame. CSU took the ball away 13 times in the half on their way to 16 points off turnovers. Guard Jermaine Robinson (Philadelphia, Penn./Simon Gratz) hit a three-pointer to send CSU into the lockerroom at intermission with a 43-32 lead.
In the second stanza, the Vikings took advantage of Loyola's cold shooting (10-of-37 for 27 percent) to build a 26-point lead. With 12:09 left Jammal Harris (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights) stole the ball at mid-court and passed it off to Robinson for a layup to make it a 60-41 ballgame. Robinson finished the three-point play with a free throw to take the 20-point lead.
"Jermaine played a terrific game," noted Massimino. "It's as good of a game that he's had since he's been here - he scored, he rebounded, he had assists and steals and he played defense."
Two minutes later a fast-break layup by Theo Dixon (Cleveland Heights, Cleveland Heights) gave the Vikes its biggest lead at 69-43. For the contest Dixon had 22 points, his fourth 20-plus point game of the season.
Robinson paced the Vikings with a season-high 23 points. Harris also netted 19 points for the Vikes while Tahric Gosley (Philadelphia, Pa./Simon Gratz) added 10.
Loyola's David Bailey, who ranks 12th nationally in scoring, took game honors with 29 points.
The Ramblers outrebounded CSU 42-38, but LU's Anthony Smith had to share game honors with Dixon, Harris and Pape Badiane (les Ulis, France/Faith Christian Academy) as each grabed seven boards.
CSU will be in action again at the Goodman Arena on Saturday for a Horizon League match up with Illinois-Chicago at 2 pm.
