CHICAGO, Ill. - The Cleveland State University men's swimming & diving team came from behind and clinched a win over host UIC on the final event in a Horizon League dual Saturday afternoon inside Flames Natatorium.

The CSU men claimed a 153-147 win over UIC. There was just a one-point gap entering the final event—the 400 freestyle relay—meaning the team that won the last race would claim the team victory.

The CSU women came up short against UIC (188-112) while also dropping a neutral-site matchup against IUPUI (156-142).

"This weekend put us to the test," head coach Hannah Burandt said. "I'm proud of how our women excelled consistently across the two days with heart and grit. Our men came out flat Friday but turned on the heat and came out firing on all cylinders Saturday. We are constantly learning and growing and ready to be put to the test again in two weekends."

With the dual result hanging in the balance, senior Dominic Poletta, junior Ryan Sedlak, senior DJ Arslanian and senior Jack MacDonald combined to cruise to victory in the 400 freestyle relay. The quartet's winning time of 3:03.40 was nearly five seconds ahead of the runner-up.

The Viking men had actually trailed 130-115 with three events remaining, but CSU came storming back for the victory after winning the final three events.

Senior Matthew Martin got the comeback started with his win in the 100 butterfly in 50.40 seconds. Then junior Timothy Kubacki and sophomore Jack Krusinski finished 1-2 in the 400 IM, finishing in 4:02.99 and 4:06.09, respectively.

Martin and Kubacki were two of the seven Viking swimmers to win a race Saturday. In addition to the 400 IM, CSU also finished 1-2 in the 100 breaststroke and 50 freestyle.

Krusinski (57.82) and senior Tyler Stevenson (58.21) were 1-2 in the 100 breaststroke and also finished second (26.26) and third (26.65) in the 50 breaststroke.

Poletta (21.19) and Sedlak (21.43) were 1-2 in the 50 freestyle.

Junior Dominik Niedzialek won the 1000 freestyle in 9:36.68 and also had two runner-up finishes. He was second in the 50 backstroke (24.28) and the 500 freestyle (4:41.08).

Arslanian and MacDonald won the 50 butterfly and 100 freestyle in 23.29 seconds and 46.51 seconds, respectively.

Kubacki, Krusinski, Martin and MacDonald had won the first men's race of the day by claiming first in the 400 medley relay in 3:22.46.

A trio of Viking women won races Saturday while competing against the two HL foes.

Junior Shaw Barney won the 50 butterfly in 26.68 seconds before taking second in the 100 fly in 59.32.

Junior Alana Cartwright won the 100 breaststroke in 1:06.47 and also took third in the 50 breast in 31.50 seconds. Classmate Gracyn McQueary was right behind in the 50 breast (31.51) while Sophia Davis finished in 31.86.

Sophomore Agnes Bahr won the 400 IM in 4:34.07 in the final individual event of the day.

Freshman Rachel Contich notched runner-up finishes in two freestyle events Saturday. She was second in both the 200 (1:57.13) and the 500 free (5:10.90). Senior Gabriella Marinelli was right behind Contich in the 200, finishing third in 1:57.40.

Juniors Lexie Kostelnik and Sule van der Merwe took third (10:37.99) and fourth (10:41.24) in the 1000 free.

Senior Madi Jaszcz (50 free - 24.91), Marinelli (100 free - 54.04) and senior Chuchu Yang (100 back - 1:00.28) each added a fourth-place finish.

Cleveland State will resume action on the final weekend of the month with a pair of duals in Michigan.