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.
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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.
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. 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
Records vs. Horizon League schools as of the end of the 2020–2021 school year.
Records vs. Ohio schools as of the end of the 2015–2016 school year.
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
Attendance
8 total NBA draft picks.
Regular Draft
Conference tournaments
1988, No tournament held
1989, Ineligible for tournament
1990, Ineligible for tournament
1996, Did not qualify as 9th overall in the conference.
2019, Did not qualify as 9th overall in the conference.
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.
CBI results
The Vikings have received three College Basketball Invitational (CBI) berths. Their combined record is 3–3.
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.
Head coaching history
Championships
Cleveland State has won six regular season championships (1985, 1986, 1993, 2011, 2021, 2022) and three conference tournaments (1986, 2009, 2021).
Alumni in the National Basketball Association
Nine Cleveland State alumni have played in the NBA, including:
Norris Cole
Franklin Edwards
Bryn Forbes
Cedric Jackson
Jim Les
Clinton Smith
Darren Tillis
D’Moi Hodge
Tristan Enaruna
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.