Cougars Go to Second Place Volunteer State

The Cleveland State men's basketball team goes to Volunteer State today.

The Cougars (5-17, 1-13) are looking to snap a five-game losing streak on the second place Pioneers (12-11, 11-3) home floor.

One key to Cleveland having success will be to slow down the conference's second leading scorer Taylor Groves. He comes into the game averaging 20.9 points per game for Volunteer State.

In the first meeting between the two teams on December 7 the Cougars took a ten-point lead into halftime, but the Pioneers put together a strong second half walking out with a 78-62 win.

Cleveland State comes in averaging 67.8 points per game on 41.8 percent shooting including 33.1% from behind the three-point line while putting in 69.8% of their shots from the free-throw line. The team is bringing down 37.4 rebounds per game and dishing out 10 assists.

Volunteer State averages 79.5 points a game on 43.8 percent shooting with 34% from behind the arc and 67% from the free-throw line while rebounding 35.3 per game and averaging 19.8 assists.

Jeremiah Hayes is Cleveland State's leading scorer at 17 per game with Carson Boyle also putting in double figures at 10.7. Along with Groves, Lavonta Ivery averages 13.2 per game and Jayden Nesbitt scores 10.2.

Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. eastern time today and can be seen on the Volunteer State live stream.

Edwin Bear
Cleveland State Community College
Sports Information/Media Relations