Holba’s Heroics Help ‘Dons Defeat Horizon League Foe Cleveland State

Sunday, November 25

Cleveland, Ohio

5 P.M.

Purdue Fort Wayne

4-4

Cleveland State

2-5

Purdue Fort Wayne

Cleveland State

Matt Holba

Photo by: Blaine Ohigashi

Holba’s Heroics Help ‘Dons Defeat Horizon League Foe Cleveland State

11/25/2018 8:19:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

CLEVELAND – Matt Holba's 3-pointer with 0.7 left was the difference in Purdue Fort Wayne's 82-79 victory on Sunday (Nov. 25) over a Cleveland State squad that played in the Horizon League Championship game last year.

Holba's trey was necessary after Cleveland State's Stefan Kenic made a 3-pointer with 16 seconds left in the game to tie the score at 79. It was only the second time all game the score was tied. The 'Dons held a lead for more than 38 minutes in the contest.

The 'Dons went to the half leading 40-39 after holding a lead as large as 10 points in the first half. This was partly due to foul trouble as four 'Dons picked up two fouls in the first half.

An 8-1 run to start the second half gave the 'Dons a 48-40 lead. The Vikings made it a three-point game later on, but it was the Mastodon bench responding. Dee Montgomery and Jarred Godfrey each had two free throws and Cameron Benford added a layup in a 6-0 run to make the score 56-47.

Cleveland State wouldn't tie the game until Kenic's shot.

Holba finished with a career-high 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting with four 3-pointers. He was one of three 'Dons in double-digits. Kason Harrell had 18 points on 9-of-14 shooting. John Konchar totaled 11 points.

Benford recorded eight rebounds, a career high for a Division I opponent, while adding a career-high three assists to go with five points. Godfrey had a career-best six assists to go with four steals.

The 'Dons scored 46 points in the paint and held a 24-12 edge in points off turnovers as the 'Dons recorded 15 steals. It is the most steals for the 'Dons in a game since recording 15 against Judson on Dec. 28, 2014.

Purdue Fort Wayne is back to .500 with the win at 4-4. Cleveland State is now 2-5. The 'Dons hit the road again on Wednesday to play at Ohio Valley Conference member Eastern Illinois.

~ Feel the Rumble ~