Cleveland State Men Drop Sixth Straight, Fall 81-70 to Northern Kentucky

Vikings struggle from 3-point range on Tim Misny bobblehead night

Feb. 26, 2026 at 2:35am

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The Cleveland State men's basketball team lost its sixth consecutive game, falling 81-70 to Northern Kentucky at the Wolstein Center. The Vikings fell behind early and were unable to recover, shooting just 5-of-24 from 3-point range. Ryan Priest led Cleveland State with 20 points, while Tre Beard added 14 and Jaidon Lipscomb and Chevalier Emery each had 12.

Why it matters

The loss extends Cleveland State's losing streak to six games, putting them at 10-20 overall and 6-13 in Horizon League play. The Vikings are struggling to find consistency as they approach the end of the regular season, raising concerns about their postseason prospects.

The details

Northern Kentucky jumped out to a double-digit lead in the first seven minutes of the game and never looked back, cruising to the 81-70 victory in front of 2,458 fans at the Wolstein Center. Cleveland State's poor 3-point shooting, converting just 5-of-24 attempts, was a key factor in the loss.

  • The game took place on February 25, 2026.
  • Cleveland State finishes the regular season on February 28, 2026 at Robert Morris.

The players

Ryan Priest

The leading scorer for Cleveland State, finishing with 20 points in the loss.

Tre Beard

Scored 14 points for the Vikings in the defeat.

Jaidon Lipscomb

Contributed 12 points for Cleveland State.

Chevalier Emery

Also scored 12 points for the Vikings in the losing effort.

Northern Kentucky

The opposing team that defeated Cleveland State 81-70.

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What’s next

Cleveland State will look to end its losing streak in the regular season finale against Robert Morris on February 28, 2026.

The takeaway

The Cleveland State men's basketball team is struggling to find its footing, having lost six straight games. Their poor 3-point shooting and inability to keep up with Northern Kentucky were key factors in this latest defeat, raising concerns about their postseason prospects as the regular season winds down.