CLEVELAND – Cleveland State (3-8, 0-2 Horizon League) dropped its home league opener to Detroit Mercy (4-6, 2-0 Horizon League), 71-59, on Saturday afternoon at the Wolstein Center.

Senior guard Jaidon Lipscomb (Columbus, Ohio) led the Vikings with 15 points on 6-of-12 from the field and 3-of-7 from the three-point line. Lipscomb added four rebounds and three assists.

Junior forward Preist Ryan (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) had his first double-double of the season with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Seven of those rebounds were on the offensive end. Ryan was 3-of-6 from the field, made one three and added one block.  

"Preist is a glue guy," head coach Rob Summers said. "Maybe he doesn't get the notoriety that Jojo (Harris) or Tre (Beard) gets but he can be the focal point for helping our team stay together. He's very vocal in the locker room. He's a guy who's always trying to get guys ramped up."

Cleveland State shot 18-of-58 (31.0%) from the field and 9-of-30 (30.0%) from the three-point line. CSU was 14-of-20 (70.0%) from the free throw line. Detroit Mercy went 26-of-58 (44.8%) from the field and 5-of-17 (29.4%) from deep. UDM was 14-of-19 (73.7%) from the free throw.

The Vikings out rebounded the Titans, 42-33. Ryan led the team with a season-high 13, while junior forward Josiah Harris (Canton, Ohio) pulled down nine rebounds.

Lipscomb had three steals and CSU forced six turnovers.

Cleveland State will return to non-conference action when they take on Oakland City on Sunday, December 14 at 2 p.m. at Woodling Gymnasium.