Can someone please locate the CSU Vikings from a few weeks ago? When they missed all their three-pointers? Or when they looked stagnant on every offensive possession? Or when they seemed to be destined for head coach Daniyal Robinson’s first under-20 win season due to an inept offense?
These questions arise now because the Vikes shot 50% from three against Wright State, scored 78 points, and had four guys in double figures.
The only logical answer to all these questions is the portal and learning to play together with new guys. At the midway point of the season, the Vikings sit at 9-6 (3-1 Horizon) and look more cohesive every game.
Home Game vs. Wright State University
With Isaac Abidde dealing with “flu-like symptoms” (according to Daniyal Robinson), Reece Robinson slid into a starting role. Along with the younger Robinson, the normal lineup of Tevin Smith, Ebrima Dibba, Tahj Staveskie, and Dylan Arnett took the court.
On the flip side of the court, Raiders standout Brandon Noel was the main focus of the CSU defense. Luckily, the normal lockdown defense of the Vikings was on display from the very beginning.
From the opening tip, this game was fairly clean on both sides. Neither team would turn the ball over much and neither would commit many fouls. Although CSU missed their first three, around the 16-minute mark, Smith and Reece Robinson hit back-to-back threes to again show their improved shooting percentage from long range.
Robinson added a layup on a nice pass from Smith, and at the first media timeout, the Vikings led 10-6. A set of split free throws and a (Horizon League Freshman of the Year? Too early?) Je’Shawn Stevenson layup saw the Vikings up 14-10. The Raiders cut this to 14-13 with a three but Chase Robinson hit his own three, Stevenson added a bucket, and Arnett sunk two free throws to build a 21-13 lead.
It wasn’t until the 7:09 mark that Noel got his first points for WSU to cut the score to 21-17. Another 4-0 run by the Vikings then built the lead back up to 25-17.
Reece Robinson added an and-one and sank the free throw as the Vikings went up 28-19. Two more free throws and another three by Smith continued to slowly build the lead up to 33-23.
Mr. Assist (Dibba) grabbed a steal and Chase Robinson sank a smooth jumper. Noel then hit his second shot in a row but Chase Robinson threw a beautiful pass to Arnett for a dunk and a 12-point lead. Heading into the half, the Vikings were up 37-25.
Logan Woods had the first four points for the Raiders out of the half. CSU went a slightly different route as Arnett threw an assist to Dibba on a layup and then Dibba threw Arnett a pass for a dunk.
With 17:41 left in the second half, WSU finally went to the foul line for the first time in the game. Jack Doumbia split the shots and this poor shooting would be a constant the rest of the half.
Those four shots plus free throw were the only points scored before the first media timeout at 16:46 left. Immediately out of the timeout, Reece Robinson committed another foul on Doumbia who again split the free throws.
Smith was fouled and did something not very common for the Vikings this season. He missed both free throws. Luckily, the rest of the game at the line was fairly normal for CSU.
The Raiders continued to try to claw their way back into the game and closed it to 45-36 on (another!) set of split free throws but Stevenson came through again. Dibba gathered another assist as Stevenson sank a three to put the Vikings back up 12.
Noel finally started going as he responded to a Chase Robinson three with his own at the 12:09 mark. Another three two minutes later and a timeout by WSU had the Vikings clinging to a nine-point lead.
Staveskie hadn’t had the best offensive first half (zero points) but he kept shooting and nullified Noel’s three with a three of his own out of the timeout. “[Staveskie] was a little sped up in the first half because they were all over him,” said Coach Robinson after the game. “He got freed up for some threes in that second half.”
A pair of dominating blocks by KJ Debrick held the Raiders at arms length but a Raiders three with 7:11 cut the lead back to ten.
Then the most sloppy and awesome play of the season happened. Chase Robinson threw an errant pass that was intercepted by Noel. Noel decided to throw his own errant pass that Robinson grabbed and lobbed to Arnett for a rim-shaking dunk.
Then disaster looked to be striking. A 7-0 run by the Raiders saw the Vikings only leading by five with 4:24 on the clock. It seemed like a classic WSU-CSU game at the Wolstein Center. WSU never goes away.
But 23 seconds later, Staveskie hit another three and calmed the team and crowd down. A Chase Robinson layup followed up by another Staveskie three (assist to Dibba of course) and an Arnett dunk put the game away for good.
In all, the Vikings responded to the 7-0 run with a 14-0 run. The final score would stand at 78-64 as CSU won the second half by two.
Key Takeaways:
- Although Noel ended with 20 points, he only grabbed six rebounds and had one assist. He also had a plus-minus of -15 (a game low). Overall, the Vikings contained him fairly well and did not let him get enough space to score. He also only went to the line for two shots.
- The Raiders only had 10 turnovers, but the Vikings only had eight. A common theme the last few weeks, CSU is continuing to protect the ball and not make stupid plays. Even the rare turnovers see guys hustling after (as the Chase Robinson weird play showed). On top of this, the Vikes only committed 13 total fouls.
- CSU has found something from three (9-18). “More catch-and-shoot threes instead of threes off the bounce” is part of the reason for this success according to Coach Robinson. Incredibly, all five guys that shot a three made a three. This list includes Reece Robinson. His ability to make jump shots along with his interior play certainly gives the Vikings an interesting look on offense.
- Dibba only had seven assists, falling short of his last few games where he had eight. Joking aside, Chase Robinson (four assists) and Dibba are running the offense like a well-oiled wrecking machine now. Arnett gave his guards props after the game, “I really got to give credit to the guards like Chase. I mean I wouldn’t be able to do anything without getting passes from them. You know they were able to drag the big guy out and then[…] I was able to score.”
- All eight Vikings had a positive plus-minus as all eight Raiders had a negative plus-minus. The Vikings bench contributed 28 points and the Raiders only got a measly five. The Vikings bench also out-rebounded the Raiders bench 10-3 and out-assisted them 7–1. This Vikings team is deep. Missing Abidde and still missing Cole Franklin with a hand injury, they certainly didn’t look shorthanded.
Next up for the Vikings:
CSU takes on IU-Indy at home Saturday at 3pm ET.
