Cleveland, OH-The Cleveland State men's basketball team used an, "elite," defensive effort in the second half in the words of head coach Daniyal Robinson to secure its 11^th consecutive victory 65-50 over Detroit Mercy on Wednesday night. The Vikings held the visiting Titans to just 16 points in the second half and at one point stopped UDM on 14 consecutive possessions.
 
Cleveland State improves to 9-1 in Horizon League play and remains on top of the Horizon League standings. The 11-game win streak is now tied for the second-longest active winning streak in the nation and is the most for the program since 2011. Detroit Mercy falls to 6-15 and 2-8 in league play.
 
Tevin Smith led the way for the Vikings offensively with 23 points on 53 percent shooting from the field. Smith connected on 3-of-4 from the free throw line and added six rebounds, two assists and three steals. He has scored in double figures in every game but one going back to November 26.
 
Je'Shawn Stevenson finished with 13 points off the bench, with nine coming in the second half. Stevenson was 4-of-9 from the field and a perfect 4-for-4 from the charity stripe. He has scored in double figures in three of his last five contests.
 
The visitors got off to a good start, scoring four of the game's first six points. UDM led for over 20 minutes of game action. The score was tied at 16 apiece at the halfway mark of the opening half with the two teams largely trading baskets at the start.
 
Cleveland State struggled from the field and the free throw line in the first half, as the Titans took control late in the half stretching the lead as high as seven points. Cleveland State finished the half just 1-for-12 from three-point range and under 50 percent from the free throw line. The Titans in contrast shot 62 percent from the floor and connected on 2-of-4 from three to take a five-point lead into the break at 34-29.
 
In what has become a recurring theme throughout the winning streak, Cleveland State came out of the halftime locker room with a head of steam and dominated the final 20 minutes.
 
The Vikings clamped down on the defensive end. A free throw from UDM's Emmanuel Kuac at the 16:47 mark gave Detroit Mercy its largest lead at nine points, 43-34. The Titans were held without a point for the next ten minutes of action. Cleveland State went on a 15-0 run that turned the nine-point deficit into a six-point lead at 49-43 with 6:47 to play.
 
The Vikings held firm down the stretch as a pair of Chase Robinson free throws with 3:18 to play pushed the lead to double digits for the first time at 55-45. A Stevenson driving layup followed by a Smith three-pointer in the final minutes pushed the lead as high as 17 and providing enough separation to ensure the final result.
 
Cleveland State held Detroit Mercy to 21 percent shooting from the field and the Titans were 0-for-7 from three-point range. The swarming Viking defense kept UDM off balance and allowed the visitors very little opportunity to get back into the game.
 
The Vikings return to the Wolstein Center court in search of a 12^th consecutive win on Saturday as Cleveland State welcomes Green Bay for a Saturday afternoon contest scheduled for 3:00 p.m. The game is part of a doubleheader with the women's basketball team who will face off with Ohio Christian at 11:30 a.m. Fans can gain admission to both games with the purchase of one ticket.