Penn with 15

Franklyn Penn Jr.

Franklyn Penn Jr. (190-G-97) had 15 points and seven rebounds as Cleveland State extended its winning streak to three straight with a 64-59 Horizon League victory over Detroit Mercy on Thursday in the Wolstein Center.

Cleveland State improved to 7-10 overall and 3-1 in the Horizon League, which marked the first time CSU has won three of its first four league games since the 2014-15 season.

Cleveland State used a 9-0 run late in the first half to pull away from the Titans. Leading 25-24 with 5:04 to play before halftime, Jaalam Hill ignited the run with a layup and then Craig Beaudion took over. He hit a jumper, drilled a three-pointer and capped the run with a dunk that pushed the Vikings lead to 34-24 with 1:25 left before the intermission.

The Vikings, who limited Detroit Mercy to 30.3 percent shooting, stretched the lead to as many as 15 points before the Titans rallied late in the second half.

Detroit Mercy trimmed the lead to four points on two occasions, but Franklyn Penn Jr. Jr. and Algevon Eichelberger each knocked down a pair of free throws in the final minute to hold off the Titans.

Cleveland State returns to action on Saturday (Jan. 11) when it hosts Oakland at 3 p.m. in the Wolstein Center.