Lipscomb’s late free throws cap Cleveland State rally in 90-88 road win at Milwaukee

A one-possession finish decided in the final second

Cleveland State ended Milwaukee’s Sunday afternoon at Panther Arena with a late rally and a 90-88 Horizon League victory, sealed when guard Jaidon Lipscomb made two free throws with one second remaining. Lipscomb led all Cleveland State scorers with 21 points, doing most of his damage from long range and the foul line.

The result moved Cleveland State to 9-14 overall and 5-7 in league play, while Milwaukee fell to 9-15 overall and 5-8 in conference games. The teams traded momentum throughout, with Cleveland State carrying a 44-39 halftime advantage before Milwaukee outscored the Vikings 49-46 after the break. Cleveland State’s closing execution at the stripe proved decisive in the final possession.

How Cleveland State built its offense

Lipscomb’s scoring came efficiently: he hit 5 of 9 three-point attempts and finished 6 of 7 at the free-throw line. The Vikings also received a near triple-impact performance from Dayan Nessah, who posted 19 points, 13 rebounds and six assists, anchoring multiple phases of the game. Chevalier Emery added 17 points on 7-for-14 shooting to give Cleveland State a third double-figure scorer and steady half-court production.

Cleveland State’s scoring distribution helped it withstand Milwaukee’s second-half push. The Vikings’ top eight scorers all contributed, and the team leaned on perimeter shot-making and free-throw conversion late to protect a narrow margin.

Milwaukee’s scoring balance kept the Panthers within a possession

Milwaukee matched Cleveland State with three prominent scoring performances of its own. Stevie Elam finished with 21 points, including five made three-pointers, and Josh Dixon added 19 points on 6-for-8 shooting while going 4-for-4 at the foul line. Aaron Franklin supplied 17 points and came close to a triple-double with nine rebounds and nine assists, helping Milwaukee generate offense both in transition and in the half court.

Key statistical lines from the game

• Halftime: Cleveland State 44, Milwaukee 39
• Final: Cleveland State 90, Milwaukee 88
• Cleveland State leaders: Jaidon Lipscomb 21 points; Dayan Nessah 19 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists; Chevalier Emery 17 points
• Milwaukee leaders: Stevie Elam 21 points; Josh Dixon 19 points; Aaron Franklin 17 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists

The deciding sequence came at the foul line, where Lipscomb’s two makes with one second left turned a tight finish into a Cleveland State road win.

What it means in the Horizon League race

With both programs clustered in the middle of the Horizon League standings entering February, the outcome tightened the separation between teams positioned around the conference’s mid-tier. For Milwaukee, the one-possession loss underscored how small margins—late fouls and last-possession execution—can determine conference results. For Cleveland State, the win provided a road result that balanced Milwaukee’s second-half surge and turned a high-scoring contest into a standings-relevant outcome.