Jan. 27, 2005

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Contact: Brian McCann

CLEVELAND -- Raheem Moss scored 21 points, including three three-pointers during a decisive 16-0 Viking run to open the game, as Cleveland State routed Butler, 77-57, on Thursday night in the recently renamed Wolstein Center.

The victory was the second straight for the Vikings, the first back-to-back league wins in almost three years, and ended a nine-game CSU losing streak to the Bulldogs.

Cleveland State improved to 6-10 on the year, including 5-1 at home, and 3-5 in Horizon League play. Butler dropped to 7-10 overall and 2-5 against the league.

"We got off to a fantastic start tonight," head coach Mike Garland said. "Butler couldn't get a decent look (at the basket) for the first 10 minutes and we made everything that we took. After that, we just woudn't let them back in."

"It wasn't just that they shot the ball well, but the moved the ball well," Butler head coach Todd Lickliter said. "They took shots they could make. They had the poise and we didn't show poise."

The Vikings were hot from all over the floor, shooting over 50-percent from the field for the sixth time this year, including a season-best .529 from three-point (9-17), and .842 from the line (16-19).

For all practical purposes, the game was decided in the first seven minuted when the Vikings made six of their first eight shots, including all four three-point attempts. At the other end of the court the Bulldogs struggled, missing their first five shots and turning the ball over three times in their first eight possesions.

Frashon McGee, who celebrated his 21st birthday by matching his career high with nine points and grabbed a game-high seven rebounds, opened the scoring when he put back an missed Omari Westley jumper just 30 seconds into the contest.

Moss then lit up the scoreboard by making three straight treys, snawiching them around a Mike Redell field goal, to extend the lead to 13-0. Redell closed the game-deciding spurt with a three-pointer with 13:37 left.

Brandon Polk made an acrobatic shot in the lane to finally put Butler on the scoreboard at the 13:08 mark.

Butler pulled to within 17-5 with 12:00 left by consecutive baskets by Justin Henderson, Westley and Patrick Tatham followed by the first of three three-pointers by Steve Gansey, and CSU had extended the lead to 26-5 with 7:14 left.

The second half was just two teams playing out the string as each Butler burst was answered by CSU.

After taking a 41-20 lead into the lockerroom, the Vikings would let Butler come no closer than 16 in the final 20 minutes

The game marked the return to the lineup for Tatham, who had missed seven straight games after severely spraining his right ankle in practice before the league opener at Loyola on Jan. 3. Tatham came off the bench to score six points and grab two rebounds in 12 minutes.

Cleveland State continues its four-game homestand against Wright State on Saturday (Jan. 29). The game will tip-off at 6:00 p.m. in the Wolstein Center and be televised on Fox Sports Ohio and several other affiliates of the Fox Sports Network.