VIDEO: Highlights

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Rob Edwards scored 24 points and Cleveland State hit nine three-pointers as the Vikings won their second straight game with a 70-53 victory over UIC on Monday night in a Horizon League contest in the Wolstein Center.

CSU improved to 7-13 overall and 2-5 in the Horizon League, while UIC fell to 2-15 overall (0-6 HL).

Edwards made 7-of-14 from the field, including 4-of-7 from three-point and all six of his free throws for his third 20-point game of the season.

Andre Yates added 11 points and three assists, while Vinny Zollo scored nine points. Demonte Flannigan was limited to 12 minutes due to foul trouble, but finished with eight points and eight rebounds.

Derek Sloan chipped in five points and three rebounds off the bench.

Dikembe Dixson led UIC with 15 points, while Tai Odiase had 11 points, 11 rebounds and six blocked shots.

The Flames took an early 3-2 lead before an Edwards three-pointer capped a 10-4 run that gave the Vikings a 12-7 lead at the 11:45 mark. The lead reached seven points (20-13) on a pair of Yates free throws with just under eight minutes to play, but four straight from the Flames sliced the lead back to three points (20-17) three minutes later.

The Vikings closed the final five minutes of the half on a 12-5 run – capped by a long three-pointer from Yates just before the halftime buzzer to take a 32-22 lead into the locker room.

An Edwards three-pointer 2:30 into the second half gave the Vikings a 15-point lead (39-24) and the lead swelled to 22 points (57-35) with nine minutes left as Yates and Edwards drilled back-to-back three-pointers as the Vikings went on to win.

CSU finished 9-of-16 from three-point and held a 43-38 advantage on the boards. The Vikings also dished out 15 assists.

The Vikings are back in action on Sunday (Jan. 24) when CSU hosts Youngstown State at 1:00 pm at Quicken Loans Arena.

CSU then closes out the first half of the Horizon League slate with an 8:00 pm ET contest at Valparaiso on Thursday (Jan. 28).