CLEVELAND — Dylan Arnett played a crucial role in leading Cleveland State to a 68-63 victory over Northern Kentucky in the quarterfinals of the Horizon League Tournament on Thursday night. Arnett contributed significantly to the Vikings’ success with 16 points, alongside 10 rebounds and four blocks, marking a solid performance for the team, which now holds a 21-11 record.
Tevin Smith also made a substantial impact, contributing 16 points from 4 of 9 shooting from the field and a flawless 8 for 8 from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, Je’Shawn Stevenson bolstered the team’s offense with nine points, hitting 4 of 6 from the field.
On the opposing side, Dan Gherezgher Jr. led the charge for the Norse, scoring 18 points as Northern Kentucky ended the season with a 17-16 record. Keeyan Itejere put in a good effort with 13 points and eight rebounds, while LJ Wells added a double-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and three steals.
In the first half, Stevenson was pivotal in Cleveland State’s strategy, contributing nine points that helped the Vikings establish a 33-27 lead by halftime. Stevenson was instrumental in securing the victory, scoring the final seven points for Cleveland State to solidify their win by a five-point margin.
