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Award-winning columnist Tom Archdeacon — an old-school storyteller in a brand-new venue — writes about sports, the city, southwest Ohio and anything else that catches his fancy… or yours.Home > Blogs > Through the Arch > Archives > 2009 > March > 07 > Entry
blog: Norris Cole Has Arrived
Norris Cole put on a one-man show Friday night to lead Cleveland State to a come-from-behind, 67-64 victory over Illinois-Chicago in the quarter-finals of the Horizon League Tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
The Dunbar High grad had a game-high 26 points, including seven down the stretch as the Vikings overcame a 9-point deficit in the final five minutes. They will now play Wisconsin-Green Bay, while Wright State faces Butler in the other bracket.
“Coach wanted me to play and I came to play, especially down the stretch,” said Cole. “We focused this week on late-game situations, so this was the result of hard work and practice.”
Friday night, no one was prouder of the sophomore guard — who has started all 33 of the Vikings’ games and is the team’s second-leading scorer at 12.9 p.p.g. — than his family, who had made the drive over from Dayton.
“Norris has arrived,” Cole’s father, Norris Sr. gushed after the game. “All the training, all the preparation, it all came out tonight. He showed leadership by example. He didn’t break under pressure and he persevered. Like a Cole, he came out on top.
“I’ve seen him do this on teams when he was a youth, but to take it to the next level like this and see it all come together is pretty special for all of us.”
Joining him was his wife Diane, their daughter Deoanna, a Wright State student, and a cousin.
“I’m just so excited, I don’t know what to say,” said Diane.
If she was at a loss for words, CSU coach Gary Waters was not:
“Norris did a fabulous job. Not only was he guarding their best player, but he was out there scoring for us.
“Being a sophomore, he’s growing in leaps and bounds. He’s intelligent — he was the salutatorian of his (Dunbar) high school — and he’s game savvy.
“He doesn’t know what horizon he’s going to go over. He’s just beginning to understand how to play this game of basketball. I can’t wait for the future of this young man.”
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Comments
By Fouls
March 7, 2009 1:31 PM | Link to this
Cleveland State has a lot of talent, including Norris. They could win a game or two in the tourney.
By Bam-Bam
March 7, 2009 11:06 AM | Link to this
What a great tribute to a great young man. A product of Valerie Elementary school, DPS intramural programs, 2 state championships. It’s just going to get better and better for this young man. We are so proud of you Norris.