Despite Slow Start, Vikings Blow Out John Carroll, 92-75, Drop Opener
D-III Team Opens CSU Exhibition In Front of Special Guest
Rob Ivory
Issue date: 11/16/09 Section: Sports
|
Drennan, who has been in the Cleveland Sports scene since the 1970s, had a barrage of Cleveland State University and CSU athletic guests on his three hour program. Guests included men's basketball radio play-by-play announcer Al Palowoski, current men's soccer coach, former John Carroll coach, and former Cleveland Crunch player Ali Kazemaini, current women's basketball coach Kate Peterson-Abiad, assistant head coach Jayson Gee, television play-by-play announcer of CSU basketball Mike Cairns, former CSU basketball player Pat Vuyancih, John Carroll men's basketball head coach Mike Moran, Cleveland State President Ronald Berkman, and former Cauldron Sports Editor and current Indians beat reporter for WTAM 1100, Nick Camino.
As for the game, call it nerves, cobwebs, or what have you, but the two best collegiate basketball teams in the Greater Cleveland area looked like orchestrated madness as the Vikes and the Streaks came out to bad starts to open their 2009-2010 campaigns. The Viking were the first team to score, even though it came at 16:40, but let Carroll take an 8-2 lead 14:25 left in the half.
Both teams continued their scrappy play, as Moran had his Blue Streaks looking like they were midseason form from the beginning, getting up and down the court and being able to capitalize on the Vikings often missed field goals. Carroll was able to carry their lead 11:20 into the first half, but continuous passing down the floor made it 12-11 after a CSU layup.
Trevon Harmon, who finished with a team high 22 points, gave the Vikings their biggest lead up to that point with a big three from the right side, but John Carroll was able to run back down the floor, hit an easy basket to tie the game. A pass that went through the Vikings' Aaron Pogue's hands turned into another Streaks basket and were leading by two, with eight and a half to go.
"There are some kids that really stepped up for well for them. One thing Cleveland State isn't known for is a good perimeter game, but if anything, they looked comfortable and hit open shots," Moran noted after the game. "Their best offense probably came from beyond the arch tonight."
Be the first to comment on this story