10-0 for the first time in school history, the Cleveland State men's basketball team has added another accomplishment to the register, earning the No. 1 ranking in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 for the first time in the poll's 12-year history.
Led by senior Norris Cole, the Vikings have been among the top defensive teams in the nation, allowing just 58.4 points per game and holding opponents to a 36.9 percent shooting percentage, ranking 25th and 16th, respectively, in Division I. Cole has pushed Cleveland State on both ends of the court, averaging 21.2 points per game, 4.3 assists per game and 4.9 rebounds per contest. On the defensive end, Cole is among the nation's top 50 in steals, picking up 2.3 per game.
Cleveland State's 10 wins lead the country, and the Vikings remain one of 19 undefeated teams in the nation. The Vikings moved to 10-0 with Horizon League wins at Green Bay and at Milwaukee, marking the first time CSU has swept its Wisconsin road trip since the 1999-00 season. Cleveland State currently holds a RPI rank of No. 17 and is receiving votes in both the AP and ESPN/USA Today Polls.
The Vikings lead a trio of Horizon League teams in the Mid-Major Poll, as Butler checks in at No. 8, while Loyola dropped to No. 21 following to League losses.
With two contests slated for the week, fans can watch the Vikings live on HorizonLeague.com on Tuesday night, with their matchup with West Virginia Tech airing live at 7 p.m. ET from the Wolstein Center. Cleveland State will be on the the road Saturday at Sam Houston State in a 4:30 p.m. ET tip.
For the complete poll, click here.
Tags: Cleveland State - Men's Basketball
