Nov. 27, 2010
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Final Stats | Quotes | Notes
By: Robert Ivory
CLEVELAND, Ohio- Despite shooting colder in the first half than the winter weather approaching the shores of Cleveland, the Cleveland State Vikings held St. Bonaventure in a 69-51 win at the Wolstein Center to continue the best start in school history.
"That first half was not a Cleveland State first half," head coach Gary Waters said. "But it was Cleveland State first half defensively which finally allowed us to hit some shots and do some things offensively to allow us to take control of this game because they are a pretty good team."
"I think our guys know the defense now. A year ago, it was all new guys. It took them awhile to understand how we play our defense and now I think it is starting to come in. We can get a lot better [at defense]. Once our best player comes back [D'Aundray Brown] that creates a whole different look at our defense."
The win continues CSU's unbeaten streak as they start the year 7-0 after CSU shot just 21% at the half, but made their opponents turn the ball over 24 times in the game.
Jeremy Montgomery led all scorers with 18 points (5-13), but hit several key three pointers (3-6), and led the Vikings throughout the game.
Big man Aaron Pogue had arguably his best game of the year, pulling down nine rebounds (five of them on the offensive side), dropping ten points, and kept the Bonnies leading scorer to 14 points.
"I though Aaron made [Andrew Nicholson] work for every shot," Waters said. "Aaron was doing such a good job of keeping him away from the basket that we did not have to use the double, which allows us to guard the other guys.
Harmon hit a nice layup (part of his 10 on the night) for the Vikings, looking that it would give them some momentum and took the 12-11 lead at the 13:19 mark. Not only did the Bonnies answer with a three of their own, but they also were able to get out to an 18-12 lead.
The Vikings were cold to start the game, as they shot just 21% in the half. Cole missed his all of his first half shots (0-9), and finished with just two free throws at the break. What kept the Vikings in the game was their ability to get to the line as they hit nine of 12 from there.
"They put an emphasis on stopping Norris [Cole]," Waters said. "We really we not completing any plays after that. We could not score, we were terrible."
CSU finally got their next basket when Montgomery took four Bonnies to the hole, missed the layup, but Pogue was there for the easy put in. It was the Vikes first basket in 6:04 and brought them within three at 18-15.
Montgomery and Pogue were the keys for the Vikings in the half as Montgomery went 2-6 from the floor, had six points, four rebounds, and a pair of steals. Pogue was able to grab eight boards (four offensive) and contribute six points and an assists.
Cleveland State was determined to get the lead back as Josh McCoy knocked down two free throws with 22 seconds left to make it 23-22.
CSU was able to get the Bonnies to turn the ball over and converted when Pogue found Tim Kamczyc under the basket, who put the easy layup in and gave the Vikes their first lead in over 13 minutes and made it 24-23 at the break.
"I shot badly in the first half, but as a team we were winning," Cole said. "Our defense was great in the first half, so I knew that we were going to turn it around. As long as we were winning, I don't care. If were losing games and I was not productive, I would care."
Cole finally got his first basket at the 18-minute mark of the second half. That basket, from the free throw line, was a catalyst as he hit another pull-up jumper to give the Vikes a 31-23 lead with 17:20 and forced the Bonnies to call a timeout.
Montgomery hit a three from the right hand corner to make it 34-25 in favor of the Vikings with 16:32. That three seemed to ignite the Viking offence, but also bring out the Viking defense as they used the press to perfection, holding the Bonnies without a basket for 5:23.
"I was due for one," Montgomery said about his big shots. "Coach has been getting on me, but staying confident in me and my teammates. I was not looking for it; it just came to me with our offense."
Getting to the line is what helped the Vikings extend their lead. In the second half CSU went to the line 20 times and 17 of their shots, going 26-32 on the night.
"Any time you are not shooting well from the floor, the smart thing to do is attack the rim and get to the line and see some shots go in," Cole said.
That was the plan Waters gave his team to win.
"What I told them was to take the ball to them basket and get fouled," Waters said. "The second half I told them not to take the three and take it to the basket. They did a much better job at that."
Norris Cole did make his mark on the game as he scored all of his 14 second half points in just an eight-minute window.
From that point on, it was all Cleveland State.
A pair of Harmon free throws at the 10:38 mark extended the Viking lead to 20 at 47-27. CSU never strayed far away from the 20-point lead plateau in the last ten minutes, leading as much as 21 and as low as 17.
CSU shot 44% (13-29) from the field in the second half.
Luda Ndaye had seven strong minutes as he had four rebounds, scored a bucket and had a steal.
St. Bonaventure falls to 3-2 on the year.
The Vikings complete their brief two-game home stand with Robert Morris on Monday (Nov. 29) with tip at 6:00 p.m. Cleveland State then begins league play with games at Green Bay on Thursday (Dec. 2) at 8:00 p.m. and Milwaukee on Saturday (Dec. 4) starting at 8:00 p.m.
