Despite playing without three key players, Cleveland State found a way to overcome the adversity and pulled out a thrilling 78-73 victory over Toledo Saturday afternoon at the Wolstein Center.

"I thought our kids never gave up," said CSU head coach Gary Waters. "They're fighting with all different type of odds against them every game. They're young and we have players down. But they are never quitting and fighting back every moment they get an opportunity."

CSU (6-2) trailed for the first 39 minutes until Charlie Lee's three-pointer with 31 seconds left gave the Vikings its first lead, 74-71.

Lee scored all of his career-high 22 points in the second half.

"(I felt) I let my team down in the first half, "said Lee, who had a team-high seven assists. "Coach (Waters) told us at halftime to be more disciplined and come out with more heart."

CSU's Sebastian Douglas sealed the win with a steal and a layup for a 76-71 advantage with 19 seconds left and Lee iced the game with a pair of free throws.

"That was our defensive scheme all along," said Douglas, who had a team-high five steals. "Those are steals that we have been working on in practice every day."

The Vikings dressed only nine players. They played without sophomore forward Anton Grady (knee), freshman guard Junior Lomomba (foot), and junior center Devon Long (sick).

Grady, who tore his meniscus in his knee against Robert Morris last week, is going to have surgery this week and is out at least four weeks. Lomomba is going to have an X-ray this week to determine if he re-broke his right foot.

Read more...

The Cleveland State men's basketball team bounced back from their first loss of the season with a 67-55 victory over Old Dominion on Saturday afternoon at the Wolstein Center.

All five of CSU's starters finished in double-figures. They combined to score 64 of CSU's 67 points.

In CSU's three wins this season, all five starters have scored in double-figures. In Tuesday's loss to Michigan, only one starter scored in double figures.

"What I wanted to see today was if we bounced back from (Tuesday's 77-47 loss to Michigan)," said CSU head coach Gary Waters. "Because when you're young that can be demoralizing. I thought our guys played a hard, tough second half."

The Vikings (3-1) got back to playing "Cleveland State basketball."

On Tuesday, CSU's defense couldn't stop Michigan as they shot 50.8 percent (30-for-59) from the field and went 9-for-24 from three-point distance.

On Saturday, CSU's defense was much improved. They held ODU to 16 field goals and didn't give up a single three-point field goal (0-10).

Read more...

Ready or not, the Cleveland State men's basketball team will open its 2012-13 season Friday night at the Wolstein Center against the Grambling State Tigers.

The Vikings will have a very youthful presence this season as they start four sophomores.  There are a combined nine freshmen and sophomores on the roster and only one senior.

"This has got to be more of a team effort for us to be as good as we’ve got to be,"CSU head coach Gary Waters said. "And the positive thing with this group is they understand that, it’s not one guy trying to do it by himself."

The Vikings will have to find a way to replace the production of departed lettermenTrey Harmon, Jeremy Montgomery, D'Aundray Brown and Aaron Pogue, who combined for 40.0 points, 13.9 rebounds and 8.1 assists per game last season.

The lone returning starter is fifth-year senior Tim Kamczyc (9.1 points, 3.9 rebounds). The Strongsville native led the nation in field goal percentage (.585) last season and will be counted on for more of a leadership role.

Read more...

Cleveland State played like they were in midseason form in their 92-49 route of Grambling State Friday night at the Wolstein Center.

On Monday, CSU head coach Gary Waters said the only way this young team was going to win was with a total team effort and not just one guy trying to do it by himself.

The Vikings (1-0) got a total team effort on Friday as six Vikings finished in double-figures, led by sophomore point guard Charlie Lee with a career-high 20 points on 7-of-10 from the field.

"We want Charlie to shoot the ball and go out there and be free," said Waters.

Other Vikings in double-figures included sophomore forward Anton Grady (14 points, 9 rebounds), freshman guard Bryn Forbes (14 points), senior forward Tim Kamczyc (12 points, six rebounds), sophomore forward Marlin Mason (10 points, five rebounds) and redshirt sophomore guard Sebastian Douglas (10 points).

CSU also had 23 assists on their 34 field goals made.

"We are trying to get better each and every game," said Waters.

After giving up 70 points to Division II Malone Tuesday night in an exhibition game, CSU got their defensive swag back holding Grambling to only 12 field goals and 49 points. They also had 13 steals which led to several easy lay-ups in transition and a 18-7 advantage in points off turnovers.

"It all starts with our defense," said Lee.

Lee had his best game as a Viking, as he controlled the tempo of the game on both sides of the court with his playmaking ability on offense (seven assists, one turnover) and his intense defensive pressure on Grambling's point guard.

"I'm the leader of the team," said Lee. "It started with me I had to pressure the point guard then everybody else just bought in and kept up the pressure. (On offense) we were able to make shots today. It started off with me again. I was able to make a couple of shots early and then we got things going and started getting out in transition."

The Vikings scored the first seven points and never looked back.

They took a 29-9 lead on Mason's lay-up and took a 43-17 advantage at the half as Lee sank a mid-range jumper to beat the buzzer.

CSU put the exclamation point on the game when Lee found Mason for an alley-opp to extend it to 60-24.

Freshmen guard Terry Rose led Grambling (0-1) with 16 points.

The Vikings face Bowling Green State on Monday in Ann Arbor, Mich. as part of the NIT Season Tip-Off.