Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons vs Cleveland State Vikings Picks and Prediction for Sunday February 22 2026
The Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons travel to the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Ohio, to face the Cleveland State Vikings on Sunday, February 22, 2026. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 PM ET on ESPN+. Purdue Fort Wayne is listed as a 2.5-point favorite with a moneyline of -142, while Cleveland State sits at +120. The total for this Horizon League matchup is set at 160.5. For more breakdowns on today’s action, be sure to check out our free college basketball picks.
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Mastodons Searching for Stability
Purdue Fort Wayne enters this game at 15-13 overall and 9-8 in Horizon League play. The Mastodons have struggled recently, going just 1-4 in their last five contests. They most recently lost 87-71 at Northern Kentucky, fell 76-59 at Green Bay, dropped a 73-68 decision at Wright State, and suffered a 90-61 loss to Youngstown State. Their lone win in that stretch came in an 83-78 victory over IUIN. The recent skid has put pressure on this group as they try to regain form heading into the final stretch of conference play.
Offensively, Purdue Fort Wayne averages 78.4 points per game but allows 77.2, which reflects their high-tempo style and defensive inconsistency. They shoot 47% from the field and average 14.0 assists per contest. However, they struggle on the glass, pulling down just 29.8 rebounds per game, which can create second-chance opportunities for opponents.
One of the defining traits of the Mastodons is their defensive activity in the passing lanes. They average 8.8 steals per game, which is a strong number in the Horizon League. That aggressive approach can swing momentum quickly, especially in transition. However, if they fail to convert those turnovers into points and continue to give up 77+ points per night, they leave themselves vulnerable in close games.
Vikings Trying to End the Slide
Cleveland State comes into this matchup at 10-18 overall and 6-11 in Horizon League play. The Vikings have also struggled recently, going 1-4 in their last five games. They lost 106-82 at Youngstown State, fell 102-90 against Wright State, dropped an 85-68 contest to Robert Morris, and lost 82-74 at IUIN. Their only win during that stretch was a 91-78 victory over Oakland.
The Vikings are one of the more explosive offensive teams in the conference, averaging 80.4 points per game. However, their defensive struggles are glaring, as they allow 85.6 points per contest. Cleveland State shoots 45% from the field and averages 15.7 assists per game, showing decent ball movement despite their record.
Defense remains the biggest concern. Allowing over 85 points per game is a recipe for trouble, especially against teams that can score efficiently. Cleveland State averages 33.0 rebounds per game along with 5.5 steals and 2.9 blocks. While they can generate offense, they have not been able to string together consistent defensive stops, which has led to several high-scoring losses. 
Purdue Fort Wayne vs Cleveland State Pick
Purdue Fort Wayne vs Cleveland State Spread Pick
- Pick: Purdue Fort Wayne -2.5
Despite their recent struggles, Purdue Fort Wayne has the more balanced profile in this matchup. Cleveland State’s defensive issues are difficult to ignore, especially against a Mastodons team that can score in transition and create turnovers. I expect Purdue Fort Wayne’s defensive pressure to generate enough easy baskets to cover this short spread on the road.
| # | Handicapper | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Nick Parsons | +4,844.00 |
| 2 |  Mark Ruelle | +4,761.00 |
| 3 |  Ricky Tran | +4,179.00 |
| 4 |  Rocky Atkinson | +3,950.00 |
| 5 |  The Gold Sheet | +2,955.00 |
Purdue Fort Wayne vs Cleveland State Total Pick
- Pick: Over 160.5
I’m going with the over in this contest. Both teams average around 80 points per game offensively, and Cleveland State’s defense has consistently allowed big numbers. Given the Mastodons’ pace and the Vikings’ willingness to push the tempo, I see this turning into an up-and-down Horizon League shootout that clears the total.
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