GET AFTER THE TIP
The Cleveland State men's basketball team kicks off the 2026-27 season Tuesday night, playing Missouri for a second straight season on the road. The tip is set for 8 p.m. eastern time.
 
A QUICK LOOK BACK BEFORE TURNING THE PAGE

• Cleveland State played its first season under head coach Rob Summers.
• Three postseason honors went to the Vikings; Chevalier Emery {Sixth Man} & Tre Beard {Sportsmanship Award}, and Dayan Nessah {Third Team}.
• The Vikings finished the 2025-26 season with an 11-22 record and 6-14 mark in the Horizon League.
• The team went 7-8 at home, 3-12 on the road, and was 1-2 in neutral site games.
• The Green and White defeated IU Indy in the play-in game, 101-93, before falling to eventual champions, Wright State in the First Round, 90-61.

 
ABOUT THE 2026-27 VIKINGS

• Cleveland State has 14 new faces on the roster
  • 9 {Ohio} | 1 {Texas} | 1 {North Carolina}, 1 {Iowa}, 1 {Florida}, 1 {Denmark}
  • 8 Division 1 Transfers | 2 JUCO | 1 Division 2 Transfer | 3 Freshman
• All 14 players on the roster are above six-foot tall with a pair of them being 6-10.
• The Vikings were picked 11th in the Horizon League Preseason Poll.

 
SEASON OPENERS

• This will be third straight season the Vikings have started the year on the road.
• Cleveland State last won a season opener during the 2013-14 season at home versus Iona, 73-69.
• The last road opening victory came in the 2011-12 campaign against No. 13 Vanderbilt, 71-58.

 
HELLO GOOD FRIEND

• For a second straight season, the Vikings will face Dennis Gates, who spent three seasons as the head coach of the Green and White.
• Gates led the program to 50 wins two regular season championships, one tournament title, and a trip to the NCAA Tournament.
• Coach Summers was a part of the three successful seasons at Cleveland State with Gates and eventually joined him for the 2024-25 season at Mizzou.

 
ABOUT THE TIGERS

• Missouri is coming of a 20-13 campaign and their third NCAA Tournament under Dennis Gates.
• Mark Mitchell, an All-SEC performer, is the only returner for the team. The graduate led Mizzou with 18.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists.
• Jason Crowe Jr. was named to the Bob Cousy Award Watch List, which is handed out to the nation's top point guard.
• The Tigers played two exhibition games; defeating Kansas State at home (71-67) before falling at UNLV, 90-81.

 
SERIES HISTORY

• This will be the second meeting between these two teams.
• The first matchup came last season in Columbia with Missouri winning, 86-59.
• Mitchell, the lone player back for both teams, had ten points and six rebounds in 30 minutes for the Tigers.

 
NEW BUT FAMILIAR FACES ON THE SIDELINE

• Coach Summers announced in May the addition of Tre Gomillion (Assistant Coach) and Drew Denisco {Chief of Staff}.
• Gomillion played three seasons for the Vikings (2019-22) under coach Gates and followed him to Missouri for his final year. Gomillion then joined the staff as a Graduate Assistant for two seasons.
• Denisco spent one season as a Graduate Assistant Coach for the Green and White in 2009-10.

 
CLEVELAND STATE SELECTED ELEVENTH IN #HLMBB PRESEASON POLL

• Cleveland State was selected to finish eleventh in the poll, which was the same spot they finished last season.
• Wright State was picked to repeat as Horizon League champions with Robert Morris in second, and Green Bay third.
   

THE NON-LEAGUE SLATE

• The Vikings will be playing eleven non-league games during the 2026-27 campaign.
• Cleveland State will be playing four teams for the first time with two of those at home.
• The Green and White will be taking part in an MTE in Huntsville with Alabama A&M and West Florida.

 
UP NEXT

• Cleveland State will open its home slate with Michigan-Dearborn on Friday, November 6 at 7 p.m. in the Wolstein Center.