Cleveland, OH-The Cleveland State men's basketball team is set to open the 2024-25 season with an exhibition matchup against Lourdes on Wednesday night at Woodling Gymnasium. Admission to the game is free for all fans and the game tips of at 7:00 p.m.
Fans will get their first look at the 2024-25 Vikings as seven newcomers will suit up in the green and white for the first time. Three transfers will make their debut, as
Tahj Staveskie,
Isaac Abidde and
Ebrima Dibba take to the floor after signing with CSU this offseason. A strong incoming freshman class of four will also see their first game action.
Reece Robinson,
Tyler Spratt,
Je'Shawn Stevenson and
Chaz Watson begin their college careers on Wednesday night.
Chase Robinson,
Dylan Arnett and
Tevin Smith are among the core of returning players who will all see elevated roles this season. Arnett enters his junior season having played in 56 career games, including starting all 36 games last season. He averaged 5.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per game in 2023-24 and looks to improve upon those totals this season. Robinson and Smith will both see increased roles this season. Robinson appeared in 35 games and shot 41 percent from the field last season as well as 85 percent from the charity stripe. Smith averaged 8.7 points per game as well as a little over one assist per game last season while making 14 starts.
This will be the first time that the Vikings and Gray Wolves have met on the hardwood. Lourdes is 1-0 after a win over Bryant and Stratton on October 26. LU finished with a 22-7 overall record last season and has a familiar face on its roster this season, as former Viking
Paxton Payne will suit up against his former team after transferring to Lourdes this offseason.
Radio coverage of the game will be available on Fox Sports 1350 AM starting with pre-game coverage at 6:30 p.m. Fans can also listen online as well as on the iHeartRadio App. Live stats will also be available on csuvikings.com.
Cleveland State opens the regular season on Monday, November 4 with a road game at Michigan. The Vikings and Wolverines will tip off at 8:00 p.m. on the Big Ten Network. Cleveland State's first home game comes seven days after Wednesday's exhibition matchup, as the Vikings host Baldwin Wallace inside the Wolstein Center. Season tickets, as well as single-game tickets and mini plans are available by contacting the Cleveland State Ticket Office at 216-687-4848.
