March 5, 2011
By: Robert Ivory
MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin- Senior Norris Cole led all Vikings with 24 points and Trevon Harmon had 18, but the Butler Bulldogs were too much as the Cleveland State Vikings fall in the Horizon League Semifinals at the US Cellular Arena in Milwaukee, 76-68.
The Vikings got the Butler lead to seven with 5:56 to go in the game and then put their full court pressure on the Bulldogs. From that moment, CSU was able to get within two in moments, but could not jump the hurdle.
Cole ended the game 7-19 from the floor, 9-9 from the line, six rebounds, and four steals.
CSU, which slips to 26-8, will ave to wait until March 13 to see what postseason tournament opportunities present themselves.
Butler finished with four in double figures as Shawn Van Zant led them with 18 as they shot 47% for the game.
Butler hit their first four field goals and led 13-6 after a 9-2 run in the first six minutes.
Trey Harmon led the Viking offense, scoring six of the Vikes first eight points. Montgomery completed a three-point play to get CSU back within two with 13 minutes to go. The Vikes were able to turn the ball over, as the Bulldogs had six turnovers in eight minutes.
A pair of Cole free throws tied the ballgame up at 13. (12:01) which was part of a 7-0 Viking run. Cole, Montgomery, and Harmon scored all of the Vikings points until a Latas thre point play with six minutes to play.
Howard hit a three to stop the CSU ran and give Butler the 16-13 lead.
Butler then ran on their own 8-0 run and took the 24-15 lead with eight minutes to go. The Bulldogs hit their shots in the half, sinking their first eight of thirteen on the night and 4-7 from three. They did get out to a 28-17 lead, their biggest of the half.
Joe Latas got a three-point play as did Trey Harmon and CSU was within seven. But the height disadvantage was too much as Aaron Pogue was on the bench because of his fouls and Butler led the battle of the boards in the half.
Harmon made another three point play with 4:13, his fourth of the half, CSU trailed by nine with 3:59. Another Latas basket brought CSU back within seven and the momentum may have been changing.
Especially after Josh McCoy hit an open three and the Vikings trailed 35-31. CSU got eight points from the bench in the half.
Butler held the ball and got the last basket of the half, leading 41-35 at the half.
Trevon Harmon led all scores with 14 points and CSU had 10 at the break as CSU shot over 47 percent at the break.
After scoring nine in the second half against Wright State the night before, Tim Kamczyc stole the ball and hit the layup for his first points of the game and CSU was within four quickly. Montgomery got a layup in the paint and CSU was within two at 41-39.
Butler missed their first five shots in the half.
Kamczyc hit a wide open three with 14:15 to go and CSU was within a point at 44-45.
But the Vikings could not answer the Butler post game after Howard and Smith scored consecutively for the Bulldogs. Smith's bucket was hit 11 and 12 points on the night, helping Butler to retake a five-point lead.
What hurt the Vikings was the inability to get to rebounds, as Butler collected eleven offensive rebounds and collected 10-second chance points.
Shawn Van Zant hit a huge three from up top and the Bulldogs regained an eight-point lead for Butler with 9:50 to go.
A pair of Harmon free throws cut the lead to 60-53 with 5:56 to go when CSU put on the full court pressure. Cole immediately stole the ball, but missed the layup. McCoy got the put back up but was fouled, hitting the second shot.
Butler missed their next shot down the floor, Cole ran the length of the floor and got Howard to foul him, his fourth of the night. Cole hit his pair and CSU was down 60-56. The pressure was too much for Butler and before they could get out of their half, CSU answered and was down by two.
Van Zant then hit a pair of threes and Butler again led by eight with 4:01 to play. Van Zant ended with 18.
CSU cut it to four, but a Howard three point play gave Butler the lead they needed.
