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Defense, Norris Cole help lead Cleveland State to 7-0 start

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Cleveland State continued its successful start to its season Saturday, even on a night when the Vikings struggled to score.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland State continued its successful start to its season Saturday, even on a night when the Vikings struggled to score.

Pestering defense was the key and a strong second-half performance from Norris Cole helped lift CSU to a 69-51 victory over St. Bonaventure before 2,214 in the Wolstein Center.

The Vikings (7-0) remain undefeated but have short rest before hosting Robert Morris at 6 p.m. Monday.

"We're 7-0 for a reason, but we are not content," Cole said.

Cole, averaging 21.2 points per game, scored 14 of his 16 in the decisive second half against St. Bonaventure (3-2). Three other Vikings were in double figures -- Jeremy Montgomery (18), Trevon Harmon (10) and Aaron Pogue (10).

"We go as Norris goes," CSU head coach Gary Waters said.

After missing all nine of shots in the first half, Cole finished 4 of 16 from the field and 8 of 10 from the line. He attacked the rim with turnovers off the press and got the team rolling after the break.

"I knew eventually it would come around," Coles said.

The Vikings, coming off the big road victory over Akron, came out cold against the Bonnies, making a shoulder-shuddering 21.2 percent in the opening half. Defense, however, remained a staple and by halftime the Vikings were able to take a 24-23 lead on a Tim Kamczyc layup.

The message from Waters was a simple one before the second half began.

"Keep defending them," Cole said. "We were in the game defending them."

Key to the defense was forcing 10 first-half turnovers, benefiting from St. Bonaveture's 38.5 percent shooting from the line.

By the first timeout of the second half the Vikings were in control, 34-25, with the Bonnies' turnovers reaching 14. With 10:38 remaining, the Vikings had outscored their visitors, 21-4. By the end of the game CSU had forced 24 turnovers.


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