March 4, 2001
FAIRBORN, Ohio (AP) - Rashad Phillips scored 35 points and Detroit led most of the way in beating Cleveland State 91-81 in the semifinals of the Midwestern Collegiate Conference tournament Sunday.
Detroit will play top-seeded Butler on Tuesday night for the tournament championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
Phillips was 11-of-16 from the field, including 9-of-13 from 3-point range, and 4-of-6 from the line.
Terrell Riggs added 19 points, and Willie Green 16 for Detroit (22-9). Doc Taylor had 26, Theo Dixon 24 and Jamaal Harris 18 for Cleveland State (19-13).
Detroit took the lead for good seven minutes into the game on a 3-pointer by Phillips and led 48-39 at halftime. Cleveland State stayed within a single-digit margin much of the second half but never got closer than three, closing to within 60-57 at 12:48 on a pair of free throws by Kevin Ross.
Riggs answered for the Titans with six points during a 12-4 run that Green capped with a three-point play at 7:43, and Cleveland State's challenge was over.
Both teams used the 3-pointer well, Cleveland State going 10-of-21 and Detroit 11-of-19. Detroit shot 60 percent - 77 percent in the second half - while Cleveland State shot 42 percent from the field.
