CLEVELAND, Ohio – Make that 12 wins in a row for the Cleveland State Vikings, after earning a 81-66 win over the Green Bay Phoenix on Saturday.
The win keeps the Vikings tied with Michigan State and Houston for the second-longest active win streak in men’s Division I basketball.
There was a short period on Saturday where the Vikings and Spartans tied with Duke for the longest active win streak. But that was before Duke’s Saturday evening win over Wake Forest, and the Cougars’ double overtime nightcap win over Kansas.
The one book of records that needs no standby is within CSU’s own program.
This year’s squad now ties with the Vikings’ teams of the 1986-87 and 2010-11 seasons for the third-longest win streak in program history. The longest win streak in program history, though, is 14 wins and was accomplished by the squads from 1985-86 and 1992-93.
Guard Chase Robinson, who had 15 of his team-high 17 points in the second half of Saturday’s win, attempts to stay collective through the streak.
“We try not to think too much of it. We got a lot of humble guys with humble beginnings, so we just try to not let it get to our heads too much,” Robinson said.
As for Tevin Smith, Robinson’s backcourt peer who delivered 15 points, four boards and five assists, he’s personally enamored by the attention garnered from the win streak.
“I hear it a lot on campus and I feed into it a lot. So, I like it, me personally. I like to go around campus, you know, feeling good,” Smith said.
Head coach Daniyal Robinson showed appreciation for the streak, but also noted the groundwork his players have been putting in to prepare for this kind of feat.
“This is the result of the hard work, and what these guys do on a day-to-day basis. We are earning these wins every single day, you earn a win by how you prepare and practice,” Robinson said. “And so, I love that we’re getting recognition for stringing along some wins, but the reality of it is, it’s a result of what our guys are doing every single day, and it’s been showing up for us on the court.”
Fans arrived Saturday to the Wolstein Center to watch the first-place and last-place squads of the Horizon League.
While the Vikings are league’s top dog, the visiting Phoenix entered Saturday with two wins, and in search of their first conference win.
And, coincidentally, the Vikings’ current win streak started Dec. 7 after a 22-point win over Green Bay.
But on Saturday, the Phoenix came in they were playing with house money, and gave the Vikings’ faithful some scary moments.
The first half was like a boxing match, with the Vikings delivering their best shots only to notice the Phoenix were keeping it close.
Per usual, the Vikings were offensively stable. Tahj Staveskie and Tevin Smith led the way with eight points each during the half, though coming in different ways.
Staveskie, who’s shot 2 of 17 from the arc in the last two games, found his groove again with two 3-pointers during the half, while Smith earned his points in the paint.
Defensively though, the Vikings couldn’t fully contain the Phoenix.
Green Bay’s offense came in swinging with some high post play that spaced the floor and opened backdoor opportunities in the paint, and 3-point opportunities in the corner.
During that time, guard Foster Wonders took advantage with two 3-pointers, giving him six of his 10 points, while Ben Tweedy bodied his way through the paint for seven of his 12 points in the first half, including a 3-pointer that tied the game at 31 with a little over a minute left in the first half.
The Vikings held onto a 34-33 lead going into halftime, but Coach Robinson noted Green Bay’s great first half wasn’t from out of the blue, but a trend of their play this season.
“(You) watch them on tape, they’ve been putting together halves. They had a great half against (Robert Morris University), they had a great half against Youngstown State,” Robinson said.
Come the second half, Cleveland State kept things going but the Phoenix found ways to stay around.
Guard Ebrima Dibba really delivered some efficient shooting on Saturday, only missing one of his four 3-points attempts, and giving the Vikings eight of his 14 points in the second half.
Green Bay big man Yonatan Levy dominated the Vikings with 19 points and nine boards, but his imprint was also featured in passing. He operated from the top of the key and down low, patiently awaiting an open teammate, and three of his four assists came in the second half.
But the heroes who helped the Vikings escape the scare were the Robinsons: Reece and Chase.
Chase Robinson exploded for 15 second-half points, finding new ways to dazzle through the paint and earn his points going at the rim. This would also result in numerous trips to the line, hitting six of his nine free throw attempts.
“I just really just try to gear it up (and) try to be more aggressive, not just for me, but for the team. I know I didn’t have the greatest first half, but man, I was just in desperation (and) trying to get something going for us,” Chase Robinson said.
Both teams delivered 22 bench points, and Robinson, who’s been coming off the bench, had a big hand in that through his offensive aggressiveness expediting needed points. Coach Robinson praised his play, noting him to be a savvy utility guy.
“He does what’s needed. Whether it’s on the defensive end, him stepping up and making tough shots, (or) making a timely 3-pointer,” Coach Robinson said. “If he’s not the Sixth Man of the Year right now in our league, I don’t know who is.”
Reece Robinson on the other hand, had his hands in multiple areas of the game with 14 points, 11 boards and two steals. From hustling to grab a Je’Shawn Stevenson 3-point miss that helped the Vikings keep possession, to a big 3-pointer to extend the lead to 67-62 with a little over five minutes left in regulation.
“Tonight offensively, the ball found him. You know, when you’re playing with great energy, you’re playing the right way, you’re playing for the team, the ball finds you. He grew up a little bit tonight,” Coach Robinson said.
The Vikings upped their defensive pressure, which forced six turnovers and kept the Phoenix to 30.0% shooting from the arc during the second half.
Cleveland State found its way back to playing its style of basketball, and earning its 16th victory on the season.
“We know what’s at stake here. We’re here to win the league and at the end of the day, we stacked another Horizon League win, took care of our home court, (and it) gives us the opportunity to go on the road and put pressure on (Purdue Fort Wayne).”
The Vikings will hit the road and play Purdue Fort Wayne on Thursday at 9 p.m. Eastern.