After another week in Horizon League play, the Butler Bulldogs are still the cream of the crop as they won both games this past week to move to 13-0 in conference play. With each win, the Bulldogs move one step closer to hosting this season’s Horizon League tournament and securing the bye into the semi-finals.
This week did provide a change below Butler, however, as for the first time this season, the Cleveland State Vikings stand alone in second place after going on the road to win twice this week. The two wins pushed the Vikings win streak to five in a row and has them at 8-4 in the conference after starting the season 3-4.
Cleveland State does not have any room for error because Green Bay and Wright State both sit just one half-game behind the Vikings at 8-5.
Player of the Week
Zavion Neely, Guard, Illinois-Chicago
Neely provided a week of positives for a team that has not had many good moments this season.
In Thursday’s loss to Cleveland State, Neely led the Flames with 17 points.
Then, in Saturday’s in over Youngstown State, Neely led all scorers with 23 points. It was just the second time this season the Flames came out on top in conference play.
Game Recaps
Thursday, February 4
#15(ESPN/USA Today) Butler 63 Detroit 55
Butler (19-4, 12-4) used a double-double by Gordon Hayward, who scored 18 points and hauled in 10 rebounds, to stay perfect in conference play with a win over Detroit (14-9, 7-5). It was not easy, as the Bulldogs had to overcome a season-high 21 turnovers.
The Titans pulled within three at 53-50 with 4:03 remaining but the Bulldogs scored six of the game’s next eight points to put it away. Detroit was led once again by Chase Simon, who scored 15 points.
Wright State 75, Valparaiso 71
In a game of runs, Wright State (15-8, 8-4) held off Valparaiso (11-13, 6-6) with a 10-1 run late in the second half. The Raiders had led by as many as 14 in the first half but the Crusaders fought back on their home floor to take the lead with 12:30 left in the game. With a two-point lead with 6:36 remaining, Wright State then went on that 10-1 run to extend the lead to 63-54.
Both teams had three players score in double figures with Wright State led by N’Gai Evans with 18 points and Valparaiso was led by Brandon Wood with 18 points.
Loyola 92, Youngstown State 85 (OT)
Loyola (13-9, 4-8) shot 58% from the field and used five players in double figures to beat Youngstown State (8-14, 2-10). Both teams were red-hot in the first half as the Penguins led by eight at the half despite allowing the Ramblers to shoot 73.9% from the field.
The Ramblers used a 14-5 run at the beginning of the second half to erase the deficit and neither team led by more than four points in the last 16:33 of regulation. A 9-2 run in overtime gave the the Ramblers the final edge as they held on at home.
The Ramblers were led by Geoff McCammon who scored 25 points and the Penguins were led by Kelvion Bright with 22 points.
Cleveland State 74, Illinois-Chicago 64
Cleveland State (11-12, 7-4) won only their second game on the road in conference by defeating Illinois-Chicago (5-17, 1-11) in Chicago. The Vikings once again used the four-guard offense to perfection, as the quartet of Trevon Harmon (17), D’Aundray Brown (15), Norris Cole (13) and Jeremy Montgomery (13) combined for 58 of the team’s 74 points.
A 14-4 Illinois-Chicago run early in the second half cut Cleveland State’s lead from 15 to just five, but the Vikings scored eight of the next 10 points to get the lead into double-digits again and put it away.
Illinois-Chicago was led by Jeremy Buttell and Neely, who scored 17 points each for the Flames.
Saturday, February 6
Valparaiso 74, Detroit 70
Despite a 19-point lead at halftime, Valparaiso (12-13, 7-6) had to withstand a Detroit (14-10, 7-6) run at the start of the second half to hold off the Titans. A 30-7 run actually gave the Titans a 54-50 lead with 9:59 remaining. An ensuing 11-2 run gave the lead back to Valparaiso and they never gave it back.
The Crusaders were led by Wood, who scored 18 points while Simon led the Titans with 20.
Cleveland State 59, Loyola 56
Cleveland State (12-12, 8-4) remained hot, winning their fifth in a row by beating Loyola (13-10, 4-9). The Vikings trailed 49-40 midway through the second half but went on a 15-2 run to take a 55-51 lead with 1:54 left. The Vikings then iced the game by hitting all four of their free throws down the stretch.
The Vikings were led by Jared Cunningham, who scored 15 points and the Ramblers were led by Ben Averkamp and Terrence Hill, who scored 12 apiece.
Illinois-Chicago 74, Youngstown State 68
Illinois-Chicago (6-17, 2-11) won for just the second time in the conference this season as they beat Youngstown State (8-15, 2-11). Led by 23 points from Neely, the Flames snapped a nine-game losing streak, while the Penguins have now lost seven in a row in conference play.
Youngstown State was led by DeAndre Mays, who score 22 points in the loss.
#15 Butler 74, Wright State 62
Butler (20-4, 13-0) once again defended their home floor and remained unblemished in league play as they defeated second place Wright State (15-9, 8-5). The Bulldogs shot 67.5% from the field, led by Willie Veasley, who scored 19 points on 9-for-9 from the field. Butler took a 10-point lead with 17:41 left in the game and the Ramblers were never able to get any closer.
Wright State was led by Vaughn Duggins, who scored 18 points.
The Week Ahead
This Week in Cleveland State Basketball
Thursday, February 11
Valparaiso (12-13, 7-6) at Cleveland State (12-12, 8-4): When the Vikings take the court for the first time this season in sole possession of second place in the Horizon League, they will try to avenge what head coach Gary Waters considers their worst loss of the season. After losing at Butler earlier this season, the Vikings went into Valparaiso and dropped a 78-71 decision, dropping them to 2-4 in conference, the last time the Vikings have lost.
Saturday, February 13
#15 Butler (20-4, 13-0) at Cleveland State (12-12, 8-4): This will be a meeting of the two hottest teams in the Horizon League as coming into this week, Cleveland State has won five games in a row, paling in comparison to Butler’s streak of 12 in a row. The last time these two teams met, Cleveland State put together what was arguably their best 17 minutes of the season in the first half at Hinkle Field House, leading the Bulldogs 31-22 with 3:08 to play in the first half. Butler, however, turned things around and came out of the game with a 64-55 victory.
The Best of the Rest
Thursday, February 11
Green Bay (16-9, 8-5) at Detroit (14-10, 7-6): The Titans will host the Phoenix in a game between two teams fighting to stay alive not only for the second bye in the Horizon League tournament, but also for the home court advantage in the first round should they not get the bye. Green Bay has lost three of their last five while Detroit has lost two in a row. In the last meeting between the two teams, Green Bay protected their home floor with a 74-72 win.
Milwaukee (13-11, 5-7) at Wright State (15-9, 8-5): Wright State is looking to secure the second bye in the Horizon League tournament as Milwaukee fights just to get a home game in the first round. After starting 4-4 in league play, the two teams have gone in opposite directions as Wright State has won four of their last five while the Panthers have lost three of four. Milwaukee held serve at home in this series earlier this season with a 67-61 win in overtime.
Saturday, February 13
Green Bay (16-9, 8-5) at Wright State (15-9, 8-5): A battle of two teams entering the week tied for third place could serve as a tournament bye elimination game as the loser will be treading water to earn that second bye. Green Bay was able to win at home the last time these two met as they defeated Wright State 68-66.