Cleveland State Tonight
12/22/2011 6:36:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Bearkats are coming off a big victory at Johnson Coliseum Tuesday night over Northern Arizona but face a talented CSU squad.
Cleveland State will be playing at home for just the fourth time this season. The Vikings are 10-2 overall after a 70-55 setback at South Florida on Monday (Dec. 19) and are receiving votes in the Associated Press Top 25 for the sixth straight week.
Sam Houston State is 4-7 this season, having won three of their last five games, including a 73-49 win over Northern Arizona on Tuesday (Dec. 20). The Vikings lead the all-time series with the Bearkats, 2-0, including a 74-62 win in Huntsville, Texas, last season.
Viking head coach Gary Waters is combining an experienced group of upperclassmen with one of the most talented freshman classes in school history as the Vikings set out to win a second straight Horizon League title. The strength of the team is at the guards where seniors Trey Harmon and Jeremy Montgomery return after starting all 36 games last season.
They are joined in the backcourt by freshmen Sebastian Douglas and Charlie Lee. Senior D'Aundray Brown returns to the lineup after missing last season with a finger injury to man the small forward spot with freshmen Marlin Mason and Ike Nwamu ready to step in and provide minutes.
The Vikings have been proving their mettle away from home this season as CSU has played nine of their 12 games away from the Wolstein Center, posting a 7-2 record in those contests. CSU is 6-1 in road games and 1-1 in neutral site contests. With eight more road games this year, CSU has a chance to break the school-record of 13 road wins in a season, set in 2008-09.
Sam Houston is led by returning letterman Marcus James and newcomers Steven Werner and Michael Holyfield.
Following the game at Cleveland State, the Bearkats will break for the holidays before returning to Johnson Coliseum on Wednesday Dec. 28 to play Samford at 7 p.m.
