The Cougars play a home game for the first time in three weeks.
Cleveland State (8-5, 4-2) hosts Columbia State (14-5, 4-3) looking to remain in the top five in the conference standings.
In their biggest win on the season the Cougars went to Motlow State (10-9, 5-2) and knocked off the first place Bucks this past Wednesday extending their winning streak to three games, their longest on the season.
Columbia State is on a two-game winning streak and wants to walk out of Cleveland State with a victory that would move them into the top five teams in the conference standings.
The Cougars average 79.3 points per game compared to the Chargers 94.9. Columbia State also holds the advantage in the rebounding department with 51.8 per contest compared to Cleveland State's 40.
Julius King, Jr. leads the way offensively for the Cougars averaging 20 points per game. King ranks fifth in the conference in points scored and is third in the conference at 47.3 percent shooting from behind the three-point line. He is one of three Cleveland State players averaging double figures in scoring.
Markese Washington scores 10.2 points per game leading Columbia State and is the only player to average scoring in double figures, but 11 players on the team are averaging five or more points per game. Washington is also the team's leading rebounder with six per contest.
Shooting is a strength for both teams. The Chargers Anthony Wright leads the conference in field goal shooting percentage at 71.3 while the Cougars Hasani Rivera ranks fourth in the league with a 60.3 field goal shooting percentage. Rivera is also Cleveland State's leading rebounder with six per outing.
This is the first of two meetings between the teams this season.
The game will be live streamed on the Cleveland State athletics website under the men's basketball schedule on the video link next to the game.
Tip-off is set for 4:00 p.m.
About Cougars Men's Basketball
Games Played: 13
Overall Record: 8-5
Conference Record: 4-2
Streak: W3… Most recently won at Motlow State 88-82
Points per Game: 79.3
Field Goal %: 46.4
Three Point %: 35.1
Free Throw %: 65.1
Rebounds per Game: 40
Assists per Game: 12.8
Steals per Game: 9.5
Men's Basketball Players Statistical Leaders
Points per Game
Julius King, Jr.: 20
Thaddeus Johnson: 13.1
Kameron Clark: 11.6
Hasani Rivera: 7.8
Staishaun Kelley: 7.5
Field Goal %
Wayne Griffin: 62.5
Hasani Rivera: 60.3
Julius King, Jr.: 50.6
Tyler DuBose.: 50
Jaylen Roberts: 50
Three Point %
Julius King, Jr.: 47.3
Hayden Smith: 38.5
Thaddeus Johnson: 37.5
Jaylen Roberts: 33.3
Kameron Clark: 30.8
Free Throw %
Julius King, Jr.: 85.1
Thaddeus Johnson: 81.1
Hayen Smith: 72
Caleb Chapman – 60
Duvall Price: 55.6
Rebounds per Game
Hasani Rivera: 6
Caleb Chapman: 5.3
Kameron Clark: 4.7
Duvall Price: 4.7
Thaddeus Johnson: 4.1
Assists per Game
Staishaun Kelley: 4
Julius King, Jr.: 2.9
Thaddeus Johnson: 2.2
Hayden Smith: 1.6
Kameron Clark: 1.5
Steals per Game
Staishaun Kelley.: 2.3
Julius King, Jr.: 2.2
Thaddeus Johnson: 1.3
Hasani Rivera: 1.0
About Columbia State Men's Basketball
Games Played: 19
Overall Record: 14-5
Conference Record: 4-3
Streak: W3… Most recently won vs Dyersburg State 110-61
Points per Game: 94.9
Field Goal %: 51.8
Three Point %: 35.4
Free Throw %: 60.7
Rebounds per Game: 51.8
Assists per Game: 17.5
Steals per Game: 12.3
About Home Basketball Games for the Cougar Men
When: Saturday, January 27 at 4:00 p.m.
Where: L. Quentin Lane Gymnasium on the Campus of Cleveland State
Admission: $8 per person (No admission charge for Cleveland State students)
Opponent: Columbia State
Edwin Bear
Cleveland State Community College
Sports Information/Media Relations
