Feb. 27, 2007
Contact: Brian McCann
GREEN BAY, Wisconsin- Troy Cotton led four Phoenix players in double figures with 19 points and Cleveland State couldn't come back from a four-point halftime deficit as UW-Green Bay pulled away for a 78-59 win in then opening round of the Horizon League Championship.
The loss ends the 2006-07 season for Cleveland State (10-21) while UW-Green Bay advances to face No. 5 seed Youngstown State on Friday night in a second round match-up at Wright State.
The Vikings played the game without senior Victor Morris, who suffered a sprained MCL in his right knee during practice on Sunday. Although the injury usually calls for a 2-4 week rehabilitation period, Morris did special drills on Monday and Tuesday in hopes of playing and wore a brace during pre-game drills but was unable to move well enough to get into the contest.
"I couldn't be prouder of the young men on my team," head coach Gary Waters said. "They have been out-manned and out-gunned all season long yet they fought through all of the adversity and gave everything that they had. Tonight was a great example of that spirit because we came into the game with only eight players and just lost one of our team leaders (Morris) yet we fought hard and were in it until late in the second half.
"This team could have given up on a number of occasions this year, but it tells you the kind of spirit that they have had to continue to work hard and fight.
"I want to thank my seniors for their leadership, especially Raheem, Victor and Patrick. When the program eventually accomplishes what it is capable of doing, it will be on the backs of these three guys who toiled so hard and for so long."
Bahaadaar Russell led CSU with 14 points while J'Nathan Bullock add 12 and Patrick Tatham and Raheem Moss had 11 each. Ryan Evanochko added 16 points for the Phoenix with Mike Schachtner and Terry Evans adding 12 points each.
UW-Green Bay had a shooting advantage, making 27-of-49 field goal attempts (.551), including a six-for-12 effort from three-point. CSU could manage just .360 shooting (18-50), including a six-for-25 performance in the second half.
Cleveland State jumped out quickly, scoring on a Joe Davis three-pointer just18 seconds into the con test.
The lead would grow to 7-2 with 17:19 left on back-to-back baskets from Bullock and Patrick Tatham.
The Phoenix would pull to within 9-7 on a Cotton three-pointer but a baseline jumper from Moss and a Tatham slam off a coast-to-coast run following his own steal pushed the Viking advantage to 13-7 with 15:50 left.
The lead would remain at six (18-12, 13:42) on a Moss three-pointer before UW-Green Bay ran off eight straight points to take its first lead, 20-18 with 8:36 left. Four different Phoenix players would score during the run with the last two baskets coming from Evanochko.
CSU would tie the game at 20 and 22, but another Cotton trey - his third of the half - gave UWGB a 25-22 advantage.
The Phoenix would lead by as many as eight in the opening stanza, 34-26 with 3:10 left, but a pair of free throws from Bullock and a pair of three-pointers by Russell pulled CSU to within 36-34 with 1:03 left.
A pair of Schachtner free throws with 24 seconds left gave UW-Green Bay a 38-34 halftime lead.
CSU would close to within 40-37 on a three-pointer by Moss with 18:40 left, but the Phoenix countered with a 7-0 run the extended the margin to 47-40 with 15:00 left.
After Russell knocked down a trey with 13:39 left, the bad luck of the Viking showed on the next three baskets.
On the first, Bullock appeared to have made a steal and was preparing to advance the ball to an all alone Russell, only to trip and loose control of the ball. Evanochko came up with it, finding an open Terry Evans going to the basket for an easy layup.
On UWGB's next possession, Russell appeared to have a steal made, only to loose the handle on the pass. Evanochko again intercepted it, firing to the left corner to a wide-open Cotton who knocked down a three-pointer.
The Vikings then advanced the ball over mid-court but Russell mishandled a short pass and Evanochko stole it, cruising in for an easy lay-up that put the Phoenix ahead, 54-43 with 12:56 left.
CSU answered with five straight points on a three-pointer from Russell and a basket inside by Tatham, but the Phoenix ran off six straight to push the lead back to 60-45 with 7:57 left but the Vikings would come no closer than 10 points the rest of the way.
