INDIANAPOLIS – It took overcoming a 12-point deficit but Cleveland State took down Green Bay, the No. 2 seed 73-67 in the second game tonight at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
The Phoenix controlled the game for almost 75 percent of the game, but it was the that last 25 percent that got a little tricky for them.
At the half Green Bay led 39-33 largely on 16 first half points by Mike Schachtner and 11 points by Ryan Tillema. Those were Schachtner’s only points of the game.
Cleveland State tried pressing Green Bay, but it didn’t work and in fact it hurt them as Green Bay sent their shooters down the court rather than have them help to break the press. So they had Tillema and Schachter down court waiting for the ball when the press was broken, and they shot and made several 3-pointers. So the Vikings gave up on the press.
“We started out pressing and they were ready for it. When you press, someone is open. They ran their shooters down the court. They didn’t take the ball up the court so at the end of the press they are down there shooting threes,” said Cleveland State coach Gary Waters.
Cleveland State (24-10) was able to stay close, keeping the deficit to single digits until the 10:48 mark when Cleveland State’s Cedric Jackson hit a 3-pointer put the Vikings up 52-50. Green Bay never was able to regain the lead.
Green Bay coach Tod Kowalczyk felt his team just ran out of gas late in the game, with Cleveland State’s physical play wearing them down.
“Unfortunately we ran out of gas,” said Kowalczyk. “The first half we played pretty well and moved the ball. In the second half it was a very physical game.”
Green Bay (22-10) held the Vikings to only foul shots, but no field goals, during the last six minutes of the game.
For Cleveland State, Norris Cole scored 24 points and for Green Bay, Tillema led scorers with 21 points.
