Dec. 4, 2002
Box Score
Junior Modibo Niakate (Paris, France/Hutchinson C.C.) came off the bench to fire in a game-high 20 points and lead Cleveland State to a 68-65 win at Akron on Wednesday at the J.A.R. Arena.
Niakate's 13 first-half points helped the Vikings, 3-3, out to a 35-23 halftime lead. CSU pushed its lead to as much as 16 points, 49-33, on a dunk by Pape Badiane (les Ulis, France/Faith Christian Academy) with 11:32 remaining but the Zips didn't fade away, staying within 10 points for the remainder of the game. The Vikes led 60-49 with 2:08 left but AU's Derrick Tarver hit a three on the next possession. Akron's John Hollingsworth then turned two CSU turnovers into scores to pull the Zips within four at 60-56 at 1:46.
CSU sophomore Walt Chavis (Steelton, Pa./Steelton-Highspire) converted four straight free throws to push the lead to 66-58 before Darryl Peterson hit a 3-pointer to cut the advantage to 66-61.
With 11 second left, Peterson split a pair of free throws but then CSU's Percell Coles drained a pair without time coming off the clock to make it 68-62. A Tarver 3-pointer as time expired accounted for the final score.
"This was a very difficult game because it's a rivalry no matter who you are and where you are - how points you are ahead or behind," noted CSU Head Coach Rollie Massimino. "I thought we played good defense.
"We hit the number on the head at 65, which was our target. We thought if we could hold them to that, we would have a chance to win."
CSU held Akron to 33.9 percent (21-of-62) from the field. In comparison, the Vikes were very effective, hitting 57.4 percent (27-of-47).
Hollingsworth matched Niakate's output of 20 points to share game honors. However, Hollingworth went 7-of-19 from the field compared to Niakate, who was 8-of-11.
The Vikings also got 12 points apiece from senior forward Tahric Gosley (Philadelphia, Pa./Simon Gratz) and sophomore guard Percell Coles (Philadelphia, Pa./Simon Gratz). Peterson and Tarver hit double digits for the Zips with 16 and 14 points, respectively.
CSU held a 37-28 rebounding advantage as Badiane pulled down a career- and game-high 11 rebounds.
