Dec. 20, 2005

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Contact: Brian McCann

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- For once, the breaks went the Vikings way as CSU rallied from a 13-point second half deficit to defeat Utah Valley State in overtime, 70-69, on Tuesday night in the Wolstein Center.

Raheem Moss, who led all scorers with 18 points, connected on his only three-pointer of the night with 4.7 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 62-62 and force overtime. It was the only time that the game was tied in regulation.

Cleveland State took control of the overtime period, scoring eight of the first 10 points to build a 70-64 lead with 2:17 left and then playing solid defense down the stretch to claim the win.

"Every possession counted tonight," head coach Mike Garland said. "It's funny. Just last week (Michigan State head coach) Tom Izzo told my team that if you always play hard, you will win games when your offense struggles. Tonight was a perfect example of that.

"I knew that we were going to have to gut it out because our kids haven't had a break in awhile and were coming off a high energy game at Michigan State last week. It shows a lot that they could grind their way through the game tonight and when the chips were down, were able to come away with the victory."

Patrick Tatham scored 11 points and J'Nathan Bullock added 10 points with each player grabbing a game-high 10 rebounds to record their first double-doubles of the year. David Heck and Chris Bailey led five Wolverines in double figures with 15 points each while Sylvestor Allison added 14 points, Ben Devoe 13 and Matt Peterson 10.

The victory improved CSU's record to 2-8 in games decided by three points or less.

"I broke the curse," Garland said, making note of the preseason ceremony during which he symbolically smashed a brick that signified all of the heart-breaking losses and tough breaks that CSU endured during his first two seasons. "That's in the past. When you work hard, good things happen. Tonight is an example of that."

The curse definitely was not working as the Vikings fought back from a 52-39 deficit with 12:11 left to get back into the game.

Trailing 56-47 with 8:14 left, CSU ran off eight straight points to pull to within 56-55 with 4:50 left. Moss keyed the comeback, sandwiching a pair of field goals and one free throw around a Luke Murphy three-pointer.

But Utah Valley State refused to concede as Bailey scored a pair of baskets inside to rebuild the lead to 60-55 with 2:38 left.

Bullock countered with a pair of baskets, the last coming with 29 seconds left and pulling CSU to within 60-59. The Vikings quickly fouled and Heck made both free throws to extend the lead to 62-59 with 20 seconds left.

On the ensuing possession, CSU worked the ball around the perimeter until Carlos English found Moss alone in the left corner and Moss connected on the 21-foot jumper with 4.7 second left.

Utah Valley State had a chance to win it in regulation, but Russell Wesley's three-pointer at the buzzer was short.

The overtime started out fast as Moss drove to the basket for two to put CSU up, 64-62. Bailey came right back to knot the score at 64 with 4:21 left.

CSU ran off the next six points as Bullock, Frashon McGee and English each scored to put the Vikings ahead, 70-64 with 2:17 left. Utah Valley State came back, using a three-pointer by Allison and a basket by Devoe to close to within 70-69 with 43 seconds left. The Wolverines had a chance to win the game, but Allisons driving layup at the buzzer off a length of the court run was off the mark.

The win snaps the Vikings (3-5) three-game losing streak and allows CSU to avenge last year's 72-65 loss at Utah Valley State. It was the first overtime game for the Vikings in the three seasons under Garland

The Vikings seemed to be playing uphill all night as the Wolverines jumped out to an early lead and did not relinquish it until overtime. It allowed them to slow the tempo of play and run their patient half-court offense, frustrating the Vikings, who prefer a fast-break, up-tempo style.

The first half featured a slow and deliberate pace that favored the Wolverines. CSU led twice in the opening minutes, the last coming when Tatham' s field goal in the lane gave the Vikings a 4-3 lead with 17:35 remaining.

Utah Valley State answered back with six straight points, the last coming on a Heck three-pointer, to lead 9-4.

Time after time in the opening 20 minutes, the Vikings would close in on the lead only to have the Wolverines run off a couple of consecutive baskets to rebuild their lead.

Nwankwo, who was playing in his first game since becoming eligible following his transfer from Purdue, connected on back-to-back baskets to pull CSU to within 9-9, but a basket by Tika Wesley and a Peterson three-pointer rebuilt the advantage to 16-10.

Moss countered with four straight points, the last two coming on free throws, to trim the UVSC lead to 16-14 with 10:21 left, but a free throw by Bailey and a basket in the lane by Peterson extended the lead back to 19-14 with 9:19 left.

The lead would eventually blossom to seven (30-23) with 2:12 left before CSU ran off the last five points of the half to close to within 30-28 at the break. Tatham started the run by making one of two free throws and Bullock followed with a basket inside. Victor Morris closed the half with a 15-footer in heavy traffic with four seconds left in the half.

The first eight minutes of the second half belonged to Utah Valley State as the Wolverines extended their lead to 52-39 before the Vikings came back.

The Vikings will have little time to celebrate the win, returning to the court on Thursday night when they host cross-town rival John Carroll beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Wolstein Center.