The Cleveland State men's basketball team fought back from a double digit deficit in the first half to win their division semifinal over Walters State by an 85-77 final. With the win and a Roane State victory over Motlow State, the Cougars will host the Raiders Thursday night at 6 p.m. for the division championship and the right to play for the Region VII Championship on Saturday at Vol State.
Cleveland found themselves down by 16 points late in the first half, but cut it to 13 at the half as they trailed 44-31. The Senators had built the lead on the fact that they shot 66.7% in the first compared to the Cougars' 43.7%. Fortunes reversed themselves in the second twenty minutes as the Cougars got as hot as the Senators shooting went cold. They would take their first lead of the second half with 10:30 left to play on a layup by R.J. Berkley. They would take the lead for good at the nine minute mark and hold on for the victory with clutch free throw shooting and stellar defense.
The Cougars placed four players in double figures led by Khristian Green with 19 points to go with three assists and three steals. Damian Forrest would finish with 14 points and a team high nine rebounds. R.J. Berkley would score 13 off the bench while K'Juan Banks would finish with 11 points.
