Dec. 3, 2003

Box Score| Notes

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - A 23-point first half deficit was too much to overcome, as Cleveland State dropped a 73-62 decision at Penn State. Pape Badiane and Jermaine Robinson led the Vikings (2-2) with 14 points apiece for Cleveland State, which dropped its second straight game. Badiane chipped in with eight rebounds and three blocks, while Robinson contributed a team-high nine boards.

"We didn't come out with much energy tonight and it showed," head coach Mike Garland said. "You have to be ready to play when you're on the road especially when you're in a Big Ten arena. We started to play (after the 30-7 run) and get back in it, but we let up at the start of the second half and dug another hole. You can't do that."

After trailing by nine at halftime, 40-31, Cleveland State scored the first four points of the second half before seven straight points by Jagla stretched the Penn State (3-1) lead back to 12, 47-35. The Vikings would then go cold, as Penn State stretched the lead to 21, 63-42, with 8:44 remaining in the game. The Vikings didn't die, however, cutting the lead to within 10 with 4:58 minutes left, 66-56, but could get no closer than 11 points the rest of the game.

The Vikings started the first half slow, hitting just three of their first 16 shots as Penn State jumped out to a 30-7 lead in the first eight minutes of the game. Cleveland State would chip away at the lead, going on a 13-3 run to cut the margin to 33-20 with 5:48 left. The Vikes kept charging, and broke back into single digits with 3:35 left, 33-25, before Penn State stretched the lead back up to nine at halftime, 40-31. Badiane led the Vikings with 12 points at the break, including a perfect 6-6 from the free-throw line.

Cleveland State returns to the Convocation Center on Saturday, Dec. 6, for a Homecoming match up against Utah Valley State. Game time is 5:30 p.m., with doors opening at 4 p.m.