By Janiah Moore
Purdue Fort Wayne lost a tough battle against Cleveland State on Wednesday Feb. 7. The final score was 75-72.
Guard Rasheed Bello lead the Mastodons in scoring with 22 points, with 8-14 shooting from the field, and Jalen Jackson scored 21 points, with 8-12 shooting from the field and 7 rebounds. Quinton Morton-Robertson shot 3-5 from three, ending the night with nine points.
The Mastodons led most of the first half of the game and led by seven points at halftime.
With 10:52 left in the game, the Mastodons gained a nine-point lead matching their largest of the night.
After a timeout, the Vikings got back into the game trading the lead with PFW. With 4:17 left, the game was tied 66-66.
After the Vikings Drew Lowder’s free throws, Cleveland State led by four points, but it was cut to one after Morton-Robertson’s made three-pointer with five seconds left in the game.
Cleveland State made another pair of free throws, making the lead three points over the Mastodons.
Bello attempted to tie the game with a three-pointer, but was off denying overtime.
PFW falls to 15-7 and Cleveland State improves to 15-10. The Mastodons take on IUPUI (6-19) this Saturday Feb. 10 at noon at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum. The game can also be watched on ESPN+.