Aug. 18, 2001

The CSU Vikings fell behind early and lost 84-63 to the Mabo Basketball Club of Livorno on Saturday (August 18) at the Palestra Via Pera in Livorno, Italy. Livorno jumped out to a 13-0 lead and led at the end of the first quarter 32-13. The Vikings stayed with Mabo step-for-step the rest of the way, but could not make up for their slow start.

Theo Dixon (Sr./Cleveland Hts.) led the Vikings with 15 points, including 3 of 6 from three-point range. Tahric Gosley (Jr./Philadelphia Simon Gratz) led the Viking rebounders with 10, while Dixon and Pape Badiane (So./Les Ulis, France) chipped in 7 each. Badiane added 9 points on 4 of 6 shooting from the floor, and was complemented inside by John Rabb (Fr./Villa Angela-St. Joseph H.S.) with 9 points and 5 rebounds.

The Viking shooters wilted in the 98 degree Livorno heat, hitting on just 34 percent (18 of 53) of their attempts from the field, including 5 of 25 (20 percent)from the longer international three-point line. Despite their slow start, the green-and-white never gave up, cutting the Mabo lead to 12 in the third quarter with solid defense and transition baskets. Dixon and Rabb had key steals in the Vikings' run, finishing with three each for the game. The Vikings continue their exhibition tour on Saturday (August 19) in Porto San Giorgio, Italy.