Cleveland State's Norris Cole Goes Off for Top Game of the Year

Usually if you hear about a player grabbing 20 or more rebounds in a game, you assume that kind of performance would have been turned in by a ferocious frontcourt animal, a super-sized center or a powerful power forward.

Not so on Saturday.

Norris Cole, the Cleveland State Vikings 6'2" point guard, turned in the best performance of this college basketball season yesterday.

Cole tallied 41 points, 20 rebounds and nine assists.

ESPN.com reports that Cole is the first player to have a 40-20 game since Blake Griffin of Oklahoma had 40 points and 23 rebounds in a 95-74 victory over Texas Tech on Feb. 14, 2009.

The 41 points Cole scored was good enough for the third-highest total in school history.

This was Cole's fifth double-double of the season.

Earlier in the week, Cole was named as one of 10 finalists for the Bob Cousy Award, which is given to the nation's top point guard.

Being included on that list or yesterday's amazing performance didn't seem to change Cole's outlook on himself or his role on the Vikings team, currently 22-5, 11-4 in the Horizon League.

Following the game, Cole said, "Coach challenged us, we all responded to the challenge and me being the senior, I had to lead the challenge and lead us on out there and that was my mindset. I don't play the stats when I am out there playing. I am playing to win the game."

The senior guard added, "I heard I needed one more (assist for a triple-double) and it would have been nice to have but I'll take the win instead."

Very refreshing perspective.

Cole is averaging 21.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game this season.

The Vikings next game is at Wright State this Wednesday night.

Look out, Raiders...Norris Cole and the Cleveland State Vikings are headed your direction!