The Cougar basketball team took care of business late in the game as they defeated the Roane State Raiders 60-58 in the TCCAA East finals.  Trailing by 5 with 7 and half minutes to play, the Cougars went on a 10-0 run to take a 54-49 lead and held on for the win.  They will play at 4:30 p.m. CST at Volunteer State against the winner of the West finals.

Both teams traded buckets for most of the first half, but Cleveland would build a 25-15 lead at 6 and half minutes to go in the first half.  They would maintain that lead and go to the locker room with a 32-24 lead.  Damian Forrest was big in the first half with 12 points.

Roane made a push defensively and fought their way back in the second half to take the lead, but the Cougars responded to the run and took the lead back on a K'Juan Banks three point play.  They would maintain a five point advantage the rest of the way, hitting key free throws down the stretch to preserve the triumph.

Forrest and maurice Dickson led the Cougars with 14 points apiece.  Khristian Green also had double digits with ten points.  Forrest had ten rebounds while Banks and Dickson chipped in with eight and seven.  The Cougar's record now stands at 11-6 on the season.