Johnson B. Goode
March 2, 2011The NFL Draft: Best Athlete Available or Position of Need?
March 2, 2011I will spare you the “Vikings douse the Flames” headline….
The Cleveland State Men’s basketball team took their first step towards the NCAA Tournament last night with their 73-61 win over Illinois-Chicago in the first round of the Horizon League Tournament.
It was Norris Cole’s final appearance at the Wolstein Center and he didn’t disappoint. The Point Guard led all scorers with 26 points while grabbing five rebounds, dishing out four assists, blocking two shots, and notching two steals. Just another day at the office for the Horizon League Player and Defensive Player of the Year.
“It’s Cleveland State being who they are,” UIC coach Howard Moore said. ” It’s a whole lot of Norris Cole, as well as some of the supporting guys.”
That supporting cast came in the form of Cole’s backcourt mates Jeremy Montgomery and Tre Harmon, who combined 30 points and played swarming full court defense. The trio of guards were the main reasons for UIC’s 19 turnovers.
The Vikings formula of late has been to jump out to a big lead early, and then allow their opponents to slowly work their way back into the game. Last night was no different. With the Viking guards dominating (35 first half points), CSU led by 17 at the half against the lowly Flames. But credit UIC for not giving up.
“I just told my team, it’s amazing how we love to get in these holes and then play our best basketball. It’s cardiac basketball,” Moore said.
The 17-point lead was cut to five with 11 minutes left, but Cole once again would not let his team lose. “That’s my job as the leader of this team,” Cole said,” To make sure we don’t get rattled.”
Down the stretch, it became a free throw shooting contest for CSU. They made 10 of 11 over the last five and a half minutes of the game to move into the winners circle. They hit 22-28 on the night. the last two coming from reserve Guard Josh McCoy; the Vikings only two points off the bench all night.
Said coach Gary Waters: “One thing I know about this team is when you foul us, we’re going to make our free throws.”
The three CSU Guards were joined in double figures by Center Aaron Pogue, who had 10, but once again was limited to 24 minutes because of…you guessed it…foul trouble. Pogue fouled out for his third consecutive game and the sixth time this season. In fact, the big man has had four or more fouls 25 times in 32 games. I’ve said this before but it bears repeating; I have never seen one player get in foul trouble more than Pogue has this season.
The good news for Pogue and the Vikings is they get to see another day, this time in Milwaukee in Friday night’s Horizon League Quarterfinals. There they will meet Wright State, who they beat twice earlier in the season. The UIC win was a good tuneup for a tough road to an NCAA bid.
“It should be a good game,” Cole said.” We played them strong here and then went down there and played a great game. We know they’ll be ready but we’ll be ready too.”
photo via Josh Gunter/PD