EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Chicago State's road woes ended as the Cougars snapped a nearly three-year division I road-win hiatus, defeating Southern Illinois Edwardsville, 89-81, in Edwardsville, Ill.
After
Jace Colley (Preston, Nova Scotia, Canada/Toronto Basketball Academy) scored the first bucket, the Cougars allowed SIUE to go on a 13-2 run, giving the home Cougars a 9-point lead at the 15:44 mark.
SIUE went ahead by as many as 13 in the first half, before CSU closed the half on a 10-2 run, trailing by one (42-41) heading into the locker room.
It was all CSU in the final twenty minutes of action.
After a
Solomon Hunt (Pomona, Calif./Upland H.S.) layup gave the Cougars the 46-45 lead at the 16:46 mark, CSU never lost the lead for the remainder of the contest, leading by as many as 11 on three occasions.
The eight-point, 89-81 victory sealed the Cougars first Division I road win, since playing at Utah Valley (70-61) on Jan. 12, 2017.
CSU
- Four Cougars finished in double-figures; Xavier Johnson (Dallas, Texas/Hopkins H.S.) (23), Andrew Lewis (Milwaukee, Wis./Milwaukee Vincent H.S.) (18), Ke'Sean Davis (Compton, Calif./Taft Charter H.S.) (14), Jace Colley (Preston, Nova Scotia, Canada/Toronto Basketball Academy) (12).
- X. Johnson's 23 points came on 4-for-9 shooting from the field, 2-for-3 from behind the arc, and a perfect 13-for-13 from the foul line. He also added five assists, two steals, and four rebounds.
- Hunt led on the glass for CSU with a team-best six rebounds, while Davis, A. Lewis, and Colley each collected five.
- The Cougars finished the contest nearly perfect from the line, only missing two attempts in the first half, and going a perfect 16-for-16 in the second (25-27 overall).
- The 89-81 victory marks the first Division I win for the Cougars during the 2019-20 season.
SIUE
- Four host Cougars finished in double-figures; Zeke Moore (28), Tyresse Willford (15), Mike Adewunmi (13), Cam Williams (11).
- Moore also led the team in rebounds with six.
- SIUE connected on 12 three pointers, while struggling at the charity stripe, shooting 53.6% overall.
Up Next
CSU faces their second-straight OVC opponent as the Cougars travel to Nashville, Tenn. For a Dec. 16 match-up with Tennessee State at 12 p.m.
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