CHICAGO – Chicago State men's basketball earned a pair of mid-week victories after the Cougars defeated Purdue-Northwest, 89-77 on Nov., 19 and North Park, 79-66 on Nov. 20, both inside the Jones Convocation Center.
Junior
Jace Colley (Preston, Nova Scotia, Canada/Toronto Basketball Academy) averaged a double-double during the back-to-back games, with 16.5ppg and 11.5 rebounds, while
Xavier Johnson (Dallas, Texas/Hopkins H.S.) averaged 17ppg and
Amir Gholizadeh (Toronto, Ontario, Canada/Toronto Basketball Academy) trailed with 12ppg during the homestead.
Game One - Purdue-Northwest
During a game that saw six ties and two lead changes, it was the Cougars who kept momentum on their side during the final 20 minutes of the game.
A three ball from Purdue-Northwest at the 3:03 mark in the first half, gave the Pride their only lead of the game before the Cougars went on a 6-2 run to end the first twenty with a 39-37 lead.
It was all CSU in the second half as the Cougars outscored the Pride 50-40, led by X. Johnson's 12-point second-half performance, and pulled down 20 team rebounds compared to their 18.
X. Johnson led the game with 18 points, trailed by
Andrew Lewis (Milwaukee, Wis./Milwaukee Vincent H.S.) (14),
Ke'Sean Davis (Compton, Calif./Taft Charter H.S.) (12), Colley (11) and Gholizadeh (10).
On the boards Colley pulled down a game-best 10 rebounds, while
Solomon Hunt (Pomona, Calif./Upland H.S.) added eight during the victory.
Four Pride members finished in double-figures, led by Jyrus Freels 14 points and seven rebounds.
Game Two – North Park
The Cougars led the way the entire contest during their second game in 24 hours, only allowing the Vikings to tie the score at 2-2.
CSU took a 40-34 lead into the locker room at the half, where Colley was already flirting with a double-double earning 14 first-half points, and pulling down six boards. The Cougars also forced seven North Park turnovers in the first half, and scored 18 second-chance points compared to the visiting Vikings zero.
Gholizadeh took charge in the second half for the Cougars, scoring 10 of his 14 points in the final twenty before CSU sealed the 79-66 victory.
Colley led the way with 22 points and 13 boards, trailed offesnviley by X. Johnson (16) and Gholizadeh (14).
On the defensive end, the Cougars out rebounded North Park 46-to-28 and swatted five Viking's shots.
Up Next
CSU hits the road as the Cougars travel to the Sunshine State, facing Florida State Monday, Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. in Tallahassee, before heading to the Emerald City Classic in Niceville to face Jacksonville State on Nov. 29 at 11 a.m., and either Alabama State or Chattanooga the following day.
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