Feb. 23, 2012

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Contact: Greg Murphy

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CLEVELAND, Ohio - Freshman Marlin Mason scored a career-high 15 points and Cleveland State used a strong second half effort, highlighted by the freshmen class, to claim a 77-64 win over Detroit in the Wolstein Center.

The win snaps a five-game losing streak for CSU and improves the Vikings to 21-9 overall and 11-6 in league play.

CSU still has a shot for the No. 2 seed in the Horizon League Championship, needing a loss by Butler at Valparaiso on Friday night and then a CSU win over Wright State on Saturday.

Detroit, which saw its five-game win streak snapped, fell to 17-13 overall (10-7 HL).

"This team really needed that win," head coach Gary Waters said. "This was a boost in the arm, and we played hard for that win. We played hard for two weeks with no results, and we finally got results tonight. The freshmen did a great job of giving us a lift. Our freshmen did very well in a lot of areas and if they continue to do that, that will only make us stronger down the stretch.

"Our guys were resilient and they played together regardless of the circumstances and I told them at practice yesterday and again today before the game that this was an important game for us and that it was THE most important game we can play.

"We needed to play well at home and we haven't done that in a long time, but also we need to send a message to the league that we plan to be a part of this tournament. We needed to see that we could beat one of the top-level teams in the Horizon League."

Mason, who was making his second career start, hit 6-of-10 from the field and added nine rebounds. Trey Harmon led the Vikings with 16 points, while Charlie Lee added 12 points and five assists.

Ike Nwamu scored a career-high tying eight points to provide a spark off the bench.

"Ike Nwamu got this opportunity a lot sooner because he's been playing point guard in practice and he's learning the game," Waters said. "I make him play defense every possession so he's starting to pick things up."

The Titans jumped on the Vikings early, racing out to a 16-4 lead at the 11:50 mark of the first half. However, CSU began to chip away at the lead, cutting it to as few as three points on two occasions.

Detroit answered both time, regaining a nine point advantage (32-23) with 3:19 left in the half, but CSU was able to slice the deficit to six (38-32) at halftime.

The second half was a completely different story as CSU outscored the Titans, 45-26, over the final 20 minutes, holding Detroit to 5-of-23 (.217) shooting. The Titans did not make a field goal over the final 9:15 of the game as CSU put the game away.

The Vikings still did trail by four (48-44) with 12:42 left, but a Mason dunk and three-pointer by Nwamu gave CSU its first lead (49-48; 11:01) since 2-0.

The game went back and forth over the next four plus minutes as the Titans stayed in it at the free throw line, making six free tosses to stay within one (57-56) with 6:35 left.

However, a Nwamu layup, Mason free throw, layup in the lane by Lee and two free throws completed a 9-0 run that put CSU ahead, 66-56, with 2:51 left.

The run was put together with four freshmen - Lee, Nwamu, Mason, Anton Grady - and Tim Kamczyc on the floor.

Detroit closed within six thanks to four free throws, but CSU's defense once again took over a Harmon sealed it with a steal and three-point play to put the Vikings up 12 points (72-60) with one minute left.

CSU, which was out-rebounded in the first half, 27-17, came back strong on the boards in the second half to finish minus-two (40-38) on the glass.

The Vikings close the regular season with a 2:00 p.m. contest against Wright State on Saturday (Feb. 25). It is Senior Day with the four seniors and two managers honored in a pre-game ceremony.

Cleveland State vs. Detroit
February 23, 2012 - Wolstein Center

POSTGAME NOTES

Game Notes
• Today was the 52nd all-time meeting between the two schools. Detroit leads the all-time series, 35-16.
• CSU swept the season series from Detroit for the first time since the 2008-09 season. The Vikings won at UDM, 66-61, on Dec. 3.
• Detroit entered the game as the highest scoring team in the Horizon League at 72.4 points per game. On the other end, Cleveland State was allowing the fewest points in the league at 59.5.
• CSU trailed at the half, 38-32, marking the fourth straight game the Vikings trailed or were tied after the first 20 minutes.
• The Vikings were without senior D'Aundray Brown who was out for the sixth time in the last seven games with a pulled groin.
• Marlin Mason made his second career start (Feb. 18 vs. Drexel), finishing with career-highs in points (15) and rebounds (9). He went 6-of-12 from the field. • Ike Nwamu gave the Vikings a spark off the bench in his12 minutes, finishing with eight points, tying his career-high.
• At one point midway through the second half, head coach Gary Waters went with four freshmen - Charlie Lee, Ike Nwamu, Marlin Mason and Anton Grady - along with Tim Kamczyc on the floor.
• CSU snapped a five-game losing streak with tonight's win and also ended a five-game win streak for Detroit.
• The Vikings are still alive for the No. 2 seed in the Horizon League Championship. CSU needs a win over Wright State on Saturday and a Butler loss at Valparaiso on Friday.
• After being out-rebounded in the first half, 27-17, the Vikings battled back and were out-rebounded, 40-38, for the game.