Cleveland State Vikings men's basketball
Men's college basketball team
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Cleveland State Vikings men's basketball is the men's college basketball team that represents Cleveland State University. Prior to rebranding from Fenn College, they were known as the Fenn College Foxes. Cleveland State has been in Division I since 1972 and are currently led by first-year head coach Rob Summers. They have been a member of the Horizon League since 1994. Cleveland State was formerly in the Mid-Continent Conference (1982–1994). Prior to 1982, Cleveland State was an independent program. The Vikings have appeared in three NCAA Tournaments, most recently in 2021. In 1986, Cleveland State advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16.
UniversityCleveland State University
Head coachRob Summers (1st season)
LocationCleveland, Ohio
ArenaWolstein Center
(capacity: 13,610)
(capacity: 13,610)
| Cleveland State Vikings men's basketball | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
 | |||
| University | Cleveland State University | ||
| Head coach | Rob Summers (1st season) | ||
| Location | Cleveland, Ohio | ||
| Arena | Wolstein Center (capacity: 13,610) | ||
| Conference | Horizon League | ||
| Nickname | Vikings | ||
| Colors | Forest green and white[1] | ||
| NCAA Division I tournament Sweet Sixteen | |||
| 1986 | |||
| NCAA Division I tournament appearances | |||
| 1986, 2009, 2021 | |||
| Conference tournament champions | |||
| 1986, 2009, 2021 | |||
| Conference regular-season champions | |||
| 1985, 1986, 1993, 2011, 2021, 2022 | |||
| Uniforms | |||
| |||
History
The 1985–86 season is arguably the most memorable in Vikings history, as they achieved the improbable in becoming the first ever 14th seeded team to make it to the Sweet Sixteen of the 1986 NCAA tournament. Coach Kevin Mackey's squad, led by Ken 'Mouse' McFadden and Eric Mudd, upset Bobby Knight's 3rd seeded Indiana Hoosiers, by a final of 83-79. Following a 75-69 second round win against 6th seeded St.Joseph's, the Vikings would ultimately lose to Navy 71-70 on a clutch basket in the waning seconds by future Hall of Famer, David Robinson. Cleveland State would qualify for the NIT Tournament the following two seasons, but went 23 seasons until returning to the NCAA Tournament.
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On December 15, 2008, Cleveland State had their biggest regular season victory in school history, upsetting the #11 Syracuse Orange, 72-69, on a last-second, three-quarter court shot from senior guard Cedric Jackson. It was CSU's third-ever win over a Top 25 ranked opponent, and first ever on the road.[2][3] They would pick up their fourth and fifth wins over Top 25 opponents later that same season when they won at #17 Butler in the championship game of the Horizon League Tournament 57-54, and then in the first round of the 2009 NCAA tournament when, as the 13th seeded team in the Midwest bracket, they routed 4th seeded and #12 Wake Forest by a final score of 84-69.
Records
Record versus Horizon League
Records vs. Horizon League schools as of the end of the 2020–2021 school year.
| Rival | Record (W-L) | Win % |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit | 27–45 | .375 |
| Green Bay | 32–51 | .386 |
| UIC | 48–40 | .545 |
| IUPUI | 6–4 | .600 |
| Milwaukee | 26–31 | .456 |
| Northern Kentucky | 6–7 | .462 |
| Oakland | 11–11 | .500 |
| Purdue Fort Wayne | 6–2 | .750 |
| Robert Morris | 10–7 | .588 |
| Wright State | 35–42 | .455 |
| Youngstown State | 53–44 | .546 |
Record versus Ohio schools
Records vs. Ohio schools as of the end of the 2015–2016 school year.
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Individual career records
Cleveland State wins vs. the AP Top 25
| Year | Opponent | Date | Score | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985-86 | #16 Indiana | 3-14-86 | W 83–79 | Neutral |
| 2007-08 | #12 Butler | 1-17-08 | W 56-52 | Home |
| 2008-09 | #11 Syracuse #17 Butler #12 Wake Forest |
12-15-08 3-10-09 3-20-09 |
W 72-69 W 57–54 W 84-69 |
Away Away Neutral |
| 2011-12 | #7 Vanderbilt | 11-13-11 | W 71-58 | Away |
Awards
AMCU/Mid Continent Player of the Year
- Ken McFadden – 1988
AMCU/Mid Continent Coach of the Year
- Kevin Mackey - 1985, 1986
- Mike Boyd - 1993
AMCU/Mid Continent Newcomer of the Year
- Clinton Smith - 1985
- Sam Mitchell, 1993
Horizon League Player of the Year
- Norris Cole - 2011
Horizon League Newcomer of the Year
- Damon Stringer - 2000
- Bryn Forbes - 2013
- Je’Shawn Stevenson - 2025
Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year
- Cedric Jackson - 2009
- Norris Cole - 2011
- Tre Gomillion - 2021
- D'Moi Hodge - 2022
Horizon League Sixth Man of the Year
- Jon Harris - 2014
- Chase Robinson - 2025
Horizon League Coach of the Year
- Gary Waters - 2008
- Dennis Gates - 2020, 2021
HoopDirt.com Division I Coach of the Year
- Dennis Gates - 2021[4]
Attendance
Year-by-year
| Year | Rank | Games | Total | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 248 | 13 | 15,338 | 1,180 |
| 1979 | 200 | 11 | 22,839 | 2,076 |
| 1980 | 213 | 15 | 29,147 | 1,943 |
| 1981 | 177 | 14 | 34,781 | 2,484 |
| 1982 | 217 | 13 | 25,744 | 1,980 |
| 1983 | 236 | 10 | 15,808 | 1,581 |
| 1984 | 243 | 18 | 25,071 | 1,393 |
| 1985 | 208 | 16 | 32,349 | 2,022 |
| 1986 | 171 | 15 | 37,211 | 2,481 |
| 1987 | 158 | 14 | 43,347 | 3,096 |
| 1988 | 152 | 15 | 50,868 | 3,391 |
| 1989 | 198 | 13 | 31,370 | 2,413 |
| 1990 | 251 | 15 | 24,730 | 1,649 |
| 1991 | 225 | 13 | 26,574 | 2,044 |
| 1992 | 130 | 15 | 60,681 | 4,045 |
| 1993 | 129 | 12 | 50,960 | 4,247 |
| 1994 | ? | 14 | 47,400 | 3,386 |
| 1995 | ? | 11 | 36,037 | 3,276 |
| 1996 | ? | 13 | 23,013 | 1,770 |
| 1997 | ? | 12 | 55,070 | 4,589 |
| 1998 | ? | 13 | 53,912 | 4,147 |
| 1999 | ? | 14 | 53,838 | 3,846 |
| 2000 | ? | 14 | 50,685 | 3,620 |
| 2001 | ? | 13 | 41,884 | 3,222 |
| 2002 | ? | 16 | 48,968 | 3,061 |
| 2003 | ? | 13 | 23,694 | 1,823 |
| 2004 | ? | 13 | 32,327 | 2,487 |
| 2005 | ? | 12 | 29,016 | 2,418 |
| 2006 | ? | 16 | 32,197 | 2,012 |
| 2007 | ? | 14 | 36,662 | 2,619 |
| 2008 | ? | 14 | 36,888 | 2,635 |
| 2009 | ? | 15 | 35,918 | 2,395 |
| 2010 | ? | 17 | 39,968 | 2,351 |
| 2011 | ? | 20 | 62,242 | 3,112 |
| 2012 | ? | 14 | 45,640 | 3,260 |
| 2013 | ? | 14 | 30,332 | 2,167 |
| 2014 | ? | 15 | 33,545 | 2,236 |
| 2015 | ? | 16 | 29,943 | 1,996 |
| 2015-16 | ? | 10 | 14,093 | 1,409 |
| 2016-17 | ? | 13 | 18,195 | 1,400 |
| 2017-18 [6] | ? | 14 | 16,066 | 1,148 |
| 2018-19 [7] | 296 | 17 | 18,956 | 1,115 |
| 2019-20 [5] | -- | 14 | 21,014 | 1,501 |
Largest Crowds
Wolstein Center
| Attendance | Opponent | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 13,055 | Michigan | December 7, 1991 |
| 11,534 | North Carolina | November 29, 2003 |
| 10,123 | Michigan | November 30, 1996 |
| 9,568 | Georgetown | November 23, 1996 |
| 9,106 | Valparaiso | February 20, 1993 |
| 8,490 | Butler | February 5, 2011 |
| 8,106 | Cincinnati | January 13, 1993 |
| 7,333 | Butler | February 10, 2001 |
| 7,163 | Michigan State | December 7, 1993 |
| 6,912 | Xavier | January 5, 1995 |
| 6,203 | Michigan State | December 6, 1997 |
| 6,109 | Temple | December 27, 1999 |
Woodling Gym
| Attendance | Opponent | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 3,688 | Eastern Illinois | February 24, 1986 |
| 3,599 | Southwest Missouri State | February 22, 1986 |
| 3,429 | Valparaiso | March 2, 1985 |
| 3,355 | Illinois State | February 23, 1981 |
| 3,333 | Valparaiso | February 1, 1981 |
| 3,302 | Western Illinois | January 20, 1986 |
| 3,282 | Illinois Chicago | February 22, 1988 |
| 3,262 | Southwest Missouri State | February 15, 1988 |
| 3,252 | Northern Iowa | January 18, 1986 |
| 3,247 | Northern Iowa | March 2, 1987 |
Public Auditorium
| Attendance | Opponent | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 7,443 | Illinois State | March 16, 1987 |
| 7,441 | Marquette | January 29, 1981 |
| 5,424 | Illinois State | March 18, 1988 |
| 4,437 | Michigan State | December 12, 1983 |
| 4,132 | Wilberforce | January 28, 1978 |
| 4,130 | Southwest Missouri State | January 28, 1989 |
NBA draft history
Regular Draft
| Year | Round | Pick | Overall | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 11 | 4 | 87 | Weldon Kytle | St. Louis Hawks |
| 1977 | 7 | 11 | 142 | Dave Kyle | Boston Celtics |
| 1978 | 6 | 14 | 124 | Dave Kyle | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 1981 | 1 | 22 | 22 | Franklin Edwards | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1981 | 9 | 4 | 187 | Paul Roba | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 1982 | 1 | 23 | 23 | Darren Tillis | Boston Celtics |
| 1986 | 5 | 4 | 97 | Clinton Smith | Golden State Warriors |
| 2011 | 1 | 28 | 28 | Norris Cole | Chicago Bulls |
Record by year
| School | Season | Record | (Conf. Record) | Postseason | Coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fenn College | 1929–30 | 5-5 | (N/A) | -- | Homer E. Woodling |
| Fenn College | 1930–31 | 8-7 | (N/A) | -- | Homer E. Woodling |
| Fenn College | 1931–32 | 7-7 | (N/A) | -- | Homer E. Woodling |
| Fenn College | 1932–33 | 4-6 | (N/A) | -- | Homer E. Woodling |
| Fenn College | 1933–34 | 5-11 | (N/A) | -- | Homer E. Woodling |
| Fenn College | 1934–35 | 5-12 | (N/A) | -- | Homer E. Woodling |
| Fenn College | 1935–36 | 4-11 | (N/A) | -- | Homer E. Woodling |
| Fenn College | 1936–37 | 8-9 | (N/A) | -- | Homer E. Woodling |
| Fenn College | 1937–38 | 6-10 | (N/A) | -- | Homer E. Woodling |
| Fenn College | 1938–39 | 3-13 | (N/A) | -- | Homer E. Woodling |
| Fenn College | 1939–40 | 4-11 | (N/A) | -- | Homer E. Woodling |
| Fenn College | 1940–41 | 4-11 | (N/A) | -- | Homer E. Woodling |
| Fenn College | 1941–42 | 2-12 | (N/A) | -- | Bruce T. Brickley |
| Fenn College | 1942–43 | 0-13 | (N/A) | -- | Aaron L. Andrews |
| Fenn College | 1943–44 | (N/A) | (N/A) | -- | (N/A) |
| Fenn College | 1944–45 | (N/A) | (N/A) | -- | (N/A) |
| Fenn College | 1945–46 | 1-8 | (N/A) | -- | George McKinnon |
| Fenn College | 1946–47 | 5-10 | (N/A) | -- | George McKinnon |
| Fenn College | 1947–48 | 10-8 | (N/A) | -- | George McKinnon |
| Fenn College | 1948–49 | 4-14 | (N/A) | -- | George McKinnon |
| Fenn College | 1949–50 | 9-8 | (N/A) | -- | George Rung |
| Fenn College | 1950–51 | 6-11 | (N/A) | -- | George Rung |
| Fenn College | 1951–52 | 4-12 | (N/A) | -- | George Rung |
| Fenn College | 1952–53 | 2-15 | (N/A) | -- | Homer E. Woodling |
| Fenn College | 1953–54 | 1-18 | (N/A) | -- | George Rung |
| Fenn College | 1954–55 | 2-15 | (N/A) | -- | George Rung |
| Fenn College | 1955–56 | 3-15 | (N/A) | -- | George Rung |
| Fenn College | 1956–57 | 3-15 | (N/A) | -- | George Rung |
| Fenn College | 1957–58 | 6-13 | (N/A) | -- | George Rung |
| Fenn College | 1958–59 | 7-12 | (N/A) | -- | Bill Gallagher |
| Fenn College | 1959–60 | 0-19 | (N/A) | -- | Jim Rodriguez |
| Fenn College | 1960–61 | 4-15 | (N/A) | -- | Jim Rodriguez |
| Fenn College | 1961–62 | 6-13 | (N/A) | -- | Jim Rodriguez |
| Fenn College | 1962–63 | 9-9 | (N/A) | -- | Jim Rodriguez |
| Fenn College | 1963–64 | 10-9 | (N/A) | -- | Jim Rodriguez |
| Fenn College | 1964–65 | 10-9 | (N/A) | -- | Jim Rodriguez |
| Cleveland State | 1965–66 | 4-14 | (N/A) | -- | Jim Rodriguez |
| Cleveland State | 1966–67 | 8-13 | (N/A) | -- | John McLendon |
| Cleveland State | 1967–68 | 7-15 | (N/A) | -- | John McLendon |
| Cleveland State | 1968–69 | 12-14 | (N/A) | -- | John McLendon |
| Cleveland State | 1969–70 | 5-21 | (N/A) | -- | Ray Dieringer |
| Cleveland State | 1970–71 | 5-20 | (N/A) | -- | Ray Dieringer |
| Cleveland State | 1971–72 | 8-18 | (N/A) | -- | Ray Dieringer |
| Cleveland State | 1972–73 | 9-14 | (N/A) | -- | Ray Dieringer |
| Cleveland State | 1973–74 | 6-20 | (N/A) | -- | Ray Dieringer |
| Cleveland State | 1974–75 | 13-11 | (N/A) | -- | Ray Dieringer |
| Cleveland State | 1975–76 | 6-19 | (N/A) | -- | Ray Dieringer |
| Cleveland State | 1976–77 | 10-17 | (N/A) | -- | Ray Dieringer |
| Cleveland State | 1977–78 | 12-13 | (N/A) | -- | Ray Dieringer |
| Cleveland State | 1978–79 | 15-10 | (N/A) | -- | Ray Dieringer |
| Cleveland State | 1979–80 | 17-9 | (N/A) | -- | Ray Dieringer |
| Cleveland State | 1980–81 | 18-9 | (N/A) | -- | Ray Dieringer |
| Cleveland State | 1981–82 | 17-10 | (N/A) | -- | Ray Dieringer |
| Cleveland State | 1982–83 | 8-20 | (1-4) | -- | Ray Dieringer |
| Cleveland State | 1983–84 | 14-16 | (4-10) | -- | Kevin Mackey |
| Cleveland State | 1984–85 | 21-8 | (11-3) | -- | Kevin Mackey |
| Cleveland State | 1985–86 | 29-4 | (13-1) | NCAA, Sweet Sixteen | Kevin Mackey |
| Cleveland State | 1986–87 | 25-8 | (10-4) | NIT, Second Round | Kevin Mackey |
| Cleveland State | 1987–88 | 22-8 | (11-3) | NIT, Second Round | Kevin Mackey |
| Cleveland State | 1988–89 | 16-12 | (N/A) | -- | Kevin Mackey |
| Cleveland State | 1989–90 | 15-13 | (N/A) | -- | Kevin Mackey |
| Cleveland State | 1990–91 | 12-16 | (8-8) | -- | Mike Boyd |
| Cleveland State | 1991–92 | 16-13 | (7-9) | -- | Mike Boyd |
| Cleveland State | 1992–93 | 22-6 | (15-1) | -- | Mike Boyd |
| Cleveland State | 1993–94 | 14-15 | (9-9) | -- | Mike Boyd |
| Cleveland State | 1994–95 | 10-17 | (3-11) | -- | Mike Boyd |
| Cleveland State | 1995–96 | 5-21 | (3-13) | -- | Mike Boyd |
| Cleveland State | 1996–97 | 9-19 | (6-10) | -- | Rollie Massimino |
| Cleveland State | 1997–98 | 12-15 | (6-8) | -- | Rollie Massimino |
| Cleveland State | 1998–99 | 14-14 | (6-8) | -- | Rollie Massimino |
| Cleveland State | 1999–00 | 16-14 | (9-5) | -- | Rollie Massimino |
| Cleveland State | 2000–01 | 19-13 | (9-5) | -- | Rollie Massimino |
| Cleveland State | 2001–02 | 12-16 | (6-10) | -- | Rollie Massimino |
| Cleveland State | 2002–03 | 8-22 | (3-13) | -- | Rollie Massimino |
| Cleveland State | 2003–04 | 4-25 | (0-16) | -- | Mike Garland |
| Cleveland State | 2004–05 | 9-17 | (6-10) | -- | Mike Garland |
| Cleveland State | 2005–06 | 10-18 | (5-11) | -- | Mike Garland |
| Cleveland State | 2006–07 | 10-21 | (3-13) | -- | Gary Waters |
| Cleveland State | 2007–08 | 21-13 | (12-6) | NIT, First Round | Gary Waters |
| Cleveland State | 2008–09 | 26-11 | (12-6) | NCAA, Second Round | Gary Waters |
| Cleveland State | 2009–10 | 16-17 | (10-8) | -- | Gary Waters |
| Cleveland State | 2010–11 | 27-9 | (13-5) | NIT, Second Round | Gary Waters |
| Cleveland State | 2011–12 | 22-11 | (12-6) | NIT, First Round | Gary Waters |
| Cleveland State | 2012–13 | 14-18 | (5-11) | -- | Gary Waters |
| Cleveland State | 2013–14 | 21–12 | (12–4) | CIT, First Round | Gary Waters |
| Cleveland State | 2014–15 | 19–15 | (11–5) | CIT, Second Round | Gary Waters |
| Cleveland State | 2015–16 | 9–23 | (4–14) | -- | Gary Waters |
| Cleveland State | 2016–17 | 9–22 | (5–13) | -- | Gary Waters |
| Cleveland State | 2017–18 | 12–23 | (6-12) | -- | Dennis Felton |
| Cleveland State | 2018–19 | 10–21 | (5–13) | -- | Dennis Felton |
| Cleveland State | 2019–20 | 11–21 | (7–11) | -- | Dennis Gates |
| Cleveland State | 2020–21 | 19–8 | (16-4) | NCAA, First Round | Dennis Gates |
| Cleveland State | 2021–22 | 20–11 | (15-6) | NIT, First Round | Dennis Gates |
| Cleveland State | 2022–23 | 21–14 | (14-6) | CBI, First Round | Daniyal Robinson |
| Cleveland State | 2023–24 | 21–15 | (11-9) | CBI, Quarterfinals | Daniyal Robinson |
| Cleveland State | 2024–25 | 23–13 | (14-6) | CBI Runner-up | Daniyal Robinson |
| Fenn College | 34 years | 167–386 (.302) | (0–0) | 0 Postseason bids | |
| Cleveland State | 60 years | 847–892 (.487) | 344–335 (.507) | 12 Postseason bids | |
| Total | 94 years | 1014–1266 (.445) | 344–335 (.507) | 12 Postseason bids |
Conference tournaments
AMCU
| Date | Seed | Location | Round | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 9, 1984[11][12] | 7th | Springfield, Missouri | Quarterfinal | W 93-79 OT over (2) Northern Iowa |
| March 10, 1984 | Springfield, Missouri | Semifinal | W 59-58 over (3) Southwest Missouri State | |
| March 11, 1984 | Springfield, Missouri | Final | L 73-64 to (5) Western Illinois | |
| March 6, 1985 | 1st | Woodling Gym • Cleveland, Ohio | Quarterfinal | W 85-67 over (8) Wisconsin-Green Bay |
| March 8, 1985 | Woodling Gym • Cleveland, Ohio | Semifinal | L 79-76 to (4) Southwest Missouri State | |
| March 6, 1986 | 1st | Springfield, Missouri | Quarterfinal | W 73-68 over (8) Northern Iowa |
| March 7, 1986 | Springfield, Missouri | Semifinal | W 100-84 over (5) Illinois-Chicago | |
| March 8, 1986 | Springfield, Missouri | Final | W 70-66 over (3) Eastern Illinois | |
| March 5, 1987 | 2nd | Springfield, Missouri | Quarterfinal | W 60-53 over (7) Eastern Illinois |
| March 6, 1987 | Springfield, Missouri | Semifinal | W 94-78 over (3) Illinois-Chicago | |
| March 7, 1987 | Springfield, Missouri | Final | L 90-87 to (1) Southwest Missouri State |
- 1988, No tournament held
- 1989, Ineligible for tournament
- 1990, Ineligible for tournament
| Date | Seed | Location | Round | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 3, 1991 | 4th | Green Bay, Wisconsin | Quarterfinal | L 79-75 to (5) Northern Iowa |
| March 8, 1992 | 7th | CSU Convocation Center • Cleveland, Ohio | Quarterfinal | W 80-77 OT over (2) Akron |
| March 9, 1992 | CSU Convocation Center • Cleveland, Ohio | Semifinal | L 83-59 to (3) Illinois-Chicago | |
| March 7, 1993 | 1st | Dayton, Ohio | Quarterfinal | W 64-53 over (8) Western Illinois |
| March 8, 1993 | Dayton, Ohio | Semifinal | L 96-68 to (4) Illinois-Chicago | |
| March 6, 1994 | 4th | Rosemont, Illinois | Quarterfinal | W 70-67 over (5) Wright State |
| March 7, 1994 | Rosemont, Illinois | Semifinal | L 93-63 to (1) Wisconsin-Green Bay |
Horizon League
- 1996, Did not qualify as 9th overall in the conference.
| Date | Seed | Location | Round | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 1, 1997 | 7th | Dayton, Ohio | Quarterfinal | W 67-63 over (2) Detroit |
| March 2, 1997 | Dayton, Ohio | Semifinal | L 76-42 to (3) Illinois-Chicago | |
| February 28, 1998 | 5th | Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena • Green Bay, Wisconsin[14] | Quarterfinal | L 82-53 to (4) Wisconsin-Green Bay |
| February 27, 1999 | 5th | Chicago, Illinois | Quarterfinal | W 65-59 over (4) Loyola-Chicago |
| February 28, 1999 | Chicago, Illinois | Semifinal | L 80-65 to (1) Detroit | |
| March 4, 2000 | 2nd | Chicago, Illinois | Quarterfinal | L 70-54 to (7) Illinois-Chicago |
| March 3, 2001 | 3rd | Dayton, Ohio | Quarterfinal | W 62-61 over (7) Illinois-Chicago |
| March 4, 2001 | Dayton, Ohio | Semifinal | L 91-81 to (2) Detroit | |
| March 2, 2002 | 7th | CSU Convocation Center • Cleveland, Ohio[15] | Quarterfinal | L 67-63 to (2) Detroit |
| March 4, 2003 | 9th | Joseph J. Gentile Arena • Chicago, Illinois[16] | First | L 69-57 to (4) Loyola-Chicago |
| March 2, 2004 | 9th | Calihan Hall • Detroit, Michigan[17] | First | L 62-36 to (4) Detroit |
| March 1, 2005 | 8th | UIC Pavilion • Chicago, Illinois[18] | First | L 84-65 to (5) Illinois-Chicago |
| February 28, 2006 | 8th | Calihan Hall • Detroit, Michigan[19] | First | L 92-58 to (5) Detroit |
| February 27, 2007 | 9th | Resch Center • Green Bay, Wisconsin[20] | First | L 78-59 to (4) Wisconsin-Green Bay |
| March 8, 2008 | 2nd | Hinkle Fieldhouse • Indianapolis, Indiana | Semifinal | W 78-73 over (6) Valparaiso |
| March 11, 2008 | Hinkle Fieldhouse • Indianapolis, Indiana | Final | L 70-55 to (1) Butler | |
| March 3, 2009 | 3rd | Wolstein Center • Cleveland, Ohio | First | W 56-43 over (10) Detroit |
| March 6, 2009 | Hinkle Fieldhouse • Indianapolis, Indiana | Second | W 67-64 over (7) Illinois-Chicago | |
| March 7, 2009 | Hinkle Fieldhouse • Indianapolis, Indiana | Semifinal | W 73-67 over (2) Wisconsin-Green Bay | |
| March 10, 2009 | Hinkle Fieldhouse • Indianapolis, Indiana | Final | W 57-54 over (1) Butler | |
| March 2, 2010 | 5th | Wolstein Center • Cleveland, Ohio | First | W 80-66 over (8) Loyola-Illinois |
| March 5, 2010 | Hinkle Fieldhouse • Indianapolis, Indiana | Second | L 82-75 to (4) Wisconsin-Milwaukee | |
| March 1, 2011 | 3rd | Wolstein Center • Cleveland, Ohio | First | W 73-61 over (10) Illinois-Chicago |
| March 4, 2011 | U.S. Cellular Arena • Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Second | W 73-59 over (6) Wright State | |
| March 5, 2011 | U.S. Cellular Arena • Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Semifinal | L 76-68 to (2) Butler | |
| March 3, 2012 | 2nd | Athletics–Recreation Center • Valparaiso, Indiana | Semifinal | L 63-58 to (3) Detroit |
| March 5, 2013 | 8th | UIC Pavilion • Chicago, Illinois[21] | First | L 82-59 to (5) Illinois-Chicago |
| March 8, 2014 | 2nd | Resch Center • Green Bay, Wisconsin[22][23] | Semifinal | L 68-63 to (3) Wright State |
| March 6, 2015 | 4th | Athletics–Recreation Center • Valparaiso, Indiana[24] | Second | W 70-53 over (5) Detroit |
| March 7, 2015 | Athletics–Recreation Center • Valparaiso, Indiana[25] | Semifinal | L 60-55 to (1) Valparaiso | |
| March 5, 2016 | 9th | Joe Louis Arena • Detroit, Michigan[26] | First | L 65-53 to (4) Wisconsin-Green Bay |
| March 3, 2017 | 8th | Joe Louis Arena • Detroit, Michigan[27] | First | L 84-69 to (9) Youngstown State |
| March 2, 2018 | 8th | Little Caesars Arena • Detroit, Michigan[28] | First | W 72-71 over (9) Youngstown State |
| March 3, 2018 | 8th | Little Caesars Arena • Detroit, Michigan[29] | Quarterfinals | W 89-80 over (1) Northern Kentucky |
| March 5, 2018 | 8th | Little Caesars Arena • Detroit, Michigan[30] | Semifinals | W 44-43 over (4) Oakland |
| March 6, 2018 | 8th | Little Caesars Arena • Detroit, Michigan[31] | Final | L 74-57 to (2) Wright State |
- 2019, Did not qualify as 9th overall in the conference.
| Date | Seed | Location | Round | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 3, 2020 | 7th | O'rena • Rochester, Michigan | First | L 80-59 to (6) Oakland |
| March 2, 2021 | 1st | Wolstein Center • Cleveland, Ohio | Quarterfinals | W 108-104 (3OT) to (10) Purdue Fort Wayne |
| March 8, 2021 | 1st | Indiana Farmers Coliseum • Indianapolis, Indiana | Semifinals | W 71-65 to (8) Milwaukee |
| March 9, 2021 | 1st | Indiana Farmers Coliseum • Indianapolis, Indiana | Final | W 80-69 to (3) Oakland |
| March 3, 2022 | 1st | Wolstein Center • Cleveland, Ohio | Quarterfinal | W 83-67 to (10) Robert Morris |
| March 7, 2022 | 1st | Indiana Farmers Coliseum • Indianapolis, Indiana | Semifinal | L 82-67 to (4) Wright State |
Postseason history
NCAA Division I Tournament history
Cleveland State has made three appearances in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, having a record of 3–3.
NIT results
Cleveland State has appeared in the National Invitation Tournament six times, with the Vikings having a record of 3–6.
| Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | N/A | First Round Second Round | Tennessee-Chattanooga Illinois State | W 92–73 L 77–79 |
| 1988 | N/A | First Round Second Round | Illinois State Ohio State | W 89–83OT L 80–86 |
| 2008 | #6 | First Round | #3 Dayton | L 57–66 |
| 2011 | #2 | First Round Second Round | #7 Vermont #6 College of Charleston | W 63–60 L 56–64 |
| 2012 | #6 | First Round | #3 Stanford | L 65–76 |
| 2022 | -- | First Round | #2 Xavier | L 68–72 |
CBI results
The Vikings have received three College Basketball Invitational (CBI) berths. Their combined record is 3–3.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | First Round | Eastern Kentucky | L 75–91OT |
| 2024 | First Round Quarterfinals | Northern Colorado High Point | W 59–41 L 74–93 |
| 2025 | Quarterfinals Semifinals Championship | Queens (NC) Florida Gulf Coast Illinois State | W 88–73 W 72–65 L 68–79 |
CIT results
Cleveland State has appeared in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament twice, having a combined record of 1–2.
Retired numbers
Cleveland State has retired four numbers in program history.
| Cleveland State Vikings retired numbers | |||||
| No. | Player | Career | No. ret. | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Ken McFadden | 1985–1989 | 1989 | [32] | |
| 14 | Franklin Edwards | 1977–1981 | 1981 | [32] | |
| 30 | Norris Cole | 2007–2011 | 2016 | [32] | |
| 44 | Clinton Ransey | 1983–1987 | 2022 | [33] | |
Head coaching history
| No. | Coach | Tenure | Record | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Homer E. Woodling | 1929–1941 | 63–112 | .360 |
| 2 | Bruce T. Brickley | 1941–1942 | 2–12 | .143 |
| 3 | Aaron L. Andrews | 1942–1943 | 0–13 | .000 |
| 4 | George McKinnon | 1945–1949 | 20–40 | .333 |
| 5 | George Rung | 1949–1952 | 19–31 | .380 |
| 6 | Homer E. Woodling | 1952–1953 | 2–15 | .118 |
| 7 | George Rung | 1953–1958 | 15–76 | .165 |
| 8 | Bill Gallagher | 1958–1959 | 7–12 | .368 |
| 9 | Jim Rodriguez | 1959–1966 | 43–88 | .328 |
| 10 | John McLendon | 1966–1969 | 27–42 | .391 |
| 11 | Ray Dieringer | 1969–1983 | 150–210 | .417 |
| 12 | Kevin Mackey | 1983–1990 | 142–69 | .673 |
| 13 | Mike Boyd | 1990–1996 | 79–88 | .473 |
| 14 | Rollie Massimino | 1996–2003 | 90–113 | .443 |
| 15 | Mike Garland | 2003–2006 | 23–60 | .277 |
| 16 | Gary Waters | 2006–2017 | 194–172 | .530 |
| 17 | Dennis Felton | 2017–2019 | 22–44 | .333 |
| 18 | Dennis Gates | 2019–2022 | 50–40 | .556 |
| 19 | Daniyal Robinson | 2022–2025 | 65–42 | .607 |
| 20 | Rob Summers | 2025–present | 0–0 | – |
Championships
Cleveland State has won six regular season championships (1985, 1986, 1993, 2011, 2021, 2022) and three conference tournaments (1986, 2009, 2021).
| Year | Conference | Distinction | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Mid-Continent Conference | Regular season | 21–8 (11–3) |
| 1986 | Mid-Continent Conference | Regular season Conference tournament | 29–4(13–1) |
| 1993 | Mid-Continent Conference | Regular season | 22–6 (15–1) |
| 2009 | Horizon League | Conference tournament | 26–11 (12–6) |
| 2011 | Horizon League | Regular season | 27–9 (13–5) |
| 2021 | Horizon League | Regular season Conference tournament | 19–8 (16–4) |
| 2022 | Horizon League | Regular season | 20–11 (15–6) |
Alumni in the National Basketball Association
Nine Cleveland State alumni have played in the NBA,[34] including:
Media
The flagship station for CSU men's basketball is WARF 1350 AM, with announcer Al Pawlowski. Any CSU games WARF can't air due to conflicts slide over to sister station WTAM 1100 AM/106.9 FM.[35]
