CLEVELAND – Cleveland State (6-14, 2-7 Horizon League) took down Youngstown State (9-11, 2-7 Horizon League), 80-78, on Saturday afternoon at the Wolstein Center.

"This was a high-level game between two really good opponents," head coach Rob Summers said. "You saw a different team out there from our guys. Let's continue to build on that to be the best version of what this team can become. I'm very proud of this team today and I love where this program is headed."

Sophomore forward Dayan Nessah (Geneva, Switzerland) earned 21 free throw attempts and finished with a season-high and game-high 26 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Nessah knocked down one three and was 15-of-21 from the free throw line.

Junior guard Chevalier Emery (Appleton, Wisconsin) added 17 points on 4-of-7 shooting and 2-of-4 from the three-point line. Senior guard Tre Beard (Chillicothe, Ohio) posted 16 points after going 5-of-9 and 4-of-7 from deep. Senior guard Foster Wonders (Iron Mountain, Michigan) scored a season-high 12 points after going 2-of-3 from deep and 3-of-4 overall.

As a team, Cleveland State shot 20-of-39 (51.3%) from the field and 10-of-20 (50.0%) from the three-point line. CSU made a season-high 30 free throws and was 30-of-39 (76.9%) from the charity stripe. The Vikings held Youngstown State to 28-of-73 (38.4%) shooting and 8-of-43 (18.6%) from deep.

Nessah led the team in rebounds with seven while sophomore forward Holden Pierre-Louis (Potomac, Maryland) added five rebounds. Pierre-Louis also led the team in assists with five, a career high. Fifteen of Cleveland State's 20 made baskets were assisted.

The Vikings forced nine turnovers, with Nessah and Beard each grabbing three steals.

Cleveland State's biggest lead in the first half was 28-21 with 2:48 left in the first half, but YSU ended the first half on a 7-0 run to go into the break at 28 each. CSU held the Penguins to 3-of-23 (13.0%) shooting from the three-point line in the first half.

Youngstown State's biggest lead of the day came at the 14:36 mark of the second half when they pushed the lead to 46-37. Cleveland State chipped away at the lead and tied the game 59-59 at the 7:40 mark. CSU took the lead on a Beard free throw at the 5:35 mark and did not relinquish the lead for the rest of the game.

Cleveland State will continue Horizon League play on the road at Wright State on Wednesday, January 21. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. and can be watched live on ESPN+.