CLEVELAND – In a competitive matchup on Friday evening, the Cleveland State Vikings emerged victorious over the Detroit Mercy Titans, claiming a 73-65 victory.

Leading the scoring for the Vikings was Tahj Staveskie, who contributed significantly with 22 points. Staveskie executed an efficient performance, hitting 6 of his 16 attempts from the field, including a commendable 5 of 10 from beyond the arc, in addition to converting 5 out of 6 free-throw opportunities. The victory improved Cleveland State’s record to 19-9 overall and 13-4 within the Horizon League. Reece Robinson also made a notable impact, scoring 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting, while Tevin Smith rounded out the scoring figures for the Vikings with 10 points, hitting 3 of 6 from the field and four out of six from the charity stripe.

On the opposing side, Detroit Mercy was spearheaded by Orlando Lovejoy, who netted 17 points and secured six rebounds. Nate Johnson followed closely behind with 16 points, contributing to the effort despite the team’s overall struggles. Emmanuel Kuac also added to the Titans’ tally with nine points. The loss leaves Detroit Mercy with an overall record of 8-21 and a Horizon League mark of 4-14.

Looking ahead, Cleveland State is slated to face off against Oakland in an away game on Sunday, while Detroit Mercy will be traveling to Green Bay for their next contest on Thursday.