The Vikings had several opportunities to equalize or win the game in the final moments, but Tevin Smith failed to convert two layups before committing a turnover on the last play.
INDIANAPOLIS — Siem Uijtendaal, who scored all 13 of his points in the second half, and Ty Harper, who made a four-point play with 44 seconds left after missing his initial nine shots, led Youngstown State to a 56-54 comeback victory over Cleveland State on Monday night in a Horizon League Tournament semifinal.
The fourth-seeded Penguins (21-12) will now face top seed Robert Morris in the championship game on Tuesday, with an automatic spot in the NCAA Tournament on the line. Robert Morris secured their spot by defeating No. 6 seed Oakland 79-76 in overtime in the earlier semifinal.
Harper missed his six previous 3-point attempts before connecting for the game-winner, also adding a free throw after being fouled. Cleveland State (21-12) had multiple chances to tie or win it in the final seconds, but Tevin Smith missed a pair of layups before turning the ball over on the game’s final play.
Uijtendaal also had four steals for the Penguins. Nico Galette had nine points and 12 rebounds to go with three steals. Harper scored nine.
Smith finished with 14 points and two blocks to pace the Vikings. Je’Shawn Stevenson added 11 points and Tahj Staveskie scored 10.
After leading the conference for most of the season and winning 13 in a row at one point, Cleveland State ended the season by dropping 6 of its last 10. This was the Vikings’ fifth straight year in the Horizon League semis.
Earlier in the day, Cleveland State’s women’s team lost to Purdue Fort Wayne 83-65 in their semifinal.
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
