FAIRBORN, Ohio (Interstat) — In a Horizon League clash defined by contrasting styles and a stunning individual performance, the Cleveland State Vikings weathered a second-half surge from Wright State to secure an 85-79 road victory on Wednesday night at a stunned Ervin J. Nutter Center.

The game pivoted on the spectacular play of Cleveland State’s Dayan Nessah. The 6-foot-7 junior from Geneva, Switzerland delivered a career-high 31 points, showcasing a complete offensive arsenal. Nessah efficiently attacked the rim, drew fouls consistently, and was a perfect 11-for-11 from the free-throw line, adding five assists and two blocks in 32 minutes. His performance was the anchor for a Vikings offense that, while often disjointed, proved lethally efficient.

Cleveland State built its winning margin in a dominant first half, exploiting Wright State’s cold perimeter shooting. The Vikings led 40-33 at intermission, a gap forged largely by their superior three-point marksmanship. Cleveland State connected on 11 of 23 attempts from beyond the arc for the game, while the Raiders labored, making only 5 of 24.

The most critical phase of the contest came after halftime. Wright State, playing before a home crowd of 3,630, emerged from the locker room with renewed aggression. The Raiders began pounding the ball inside, leveraging their significant 50-32 advantage in points in the paint. A 13-5 run early in the second half, capped by a Logan Woods three-pointer and a subsequent free throw, cut the deficit to just one point at 45-44.

The Raiders’ momentum, however, was repeatedly stymied by Nessah and backcourt mate Tre Beard. Every time Wright State threatened to seize control, Cleveland State answered with a critical basket. Beard, a 5-foot-10 guard from Chillicothe, Ohio, scored 18 points, including several timely three-pointers. Jaidon Lipscomb of Columbus added 15 points, with his back-to-back three-pointers late in the first half proving crucial in establishing the initial cushion.

Wright State’s comeback effort was led by a balanced attack. Michael Cooper scored 14 points, while Kellen Pickett and Dominic Pangonis each added 11. Michael Imariagbe contributed 10 points and five assists off the bench. The Raiders won the battle on the glass, grabbing 11 offensive rebounds to Cleveland State’s four, and committed fewer turnovers. Yet, their inability to match the Vikings’ shooting efficiency from deep and the charity stripe proved decisive. Cleveland State shot a stellar 20 of 22 from the free-throw line, while Wright State was 12 of 18.

Despite being outscored 46-45 in the second half, the Vikings never relinquished the lead they established early. Their offensive rating of 124.2 points per 100 possessions dwarfed Wright State’s 112.0, underscoring an effective, if not always pretty, offensive night. The victory was a stark upset against the pregame metrics; statistical models gave Wright State an 84.9 percent probability to win, and the Raiders were installed as 16.5-point favorites.

The win improves Cleveland State’s record to 7-14 overall. The Vikings, who had lost three of their last four, will look to build on this momentum. The loss drops Wright State to 12-8, halting a positive run in conference play. Both teams return to Horizon League action on Jan. 30, with Cleveland State traveling to Green Bay and Wright State visiting Milwaukee. The teams are scheduled for a rematch in Cleveland on Feb. 15.