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Bullock Scores 21 as Vikings Top Detroit, 60-56

Bullock Scores 21 as Vikings Top Detroit, 60-56
Posted: Feb 09, 2008

Feb. 9, 2008

Final Stats |  Quotes |  Notes

Contact: Brian McCann

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cleveland State snapped a season-high five-game losing streak with a 60-56 victory over Detroit on Saturday night in the Wolstein Center. It is the first time in program history that the Vikings have swept Detroit in a season.

CSU improved to 15-10 overall and 8-5 in league play, while Detroit fell to 5-18 overall and 1-12 in league play. The win guarantees CSU will remain in no worse than third place entering next week.

The win was also CSU's ninth in the Wolstein Center this season, which is tied for the third most in a season in program history.

"I thought it was hard tonight, but nobody said it was going to be easy," head coach Gary Waters said. "Our kids were resilient and wanted this win badly. You have to play hard when you play Detroit, but we made it a little difficult on ourselves because of some missed shots.

"I think our guys freed themselves a little bit, but we've got to get our shooters make some shots. We did a good job of running our offense and getting the shots we wanted. There is going to be a game when we start hitting some shots."

J'Nathan Bullock led the Vikings with 21 points and five rebounds, while Cedric Jackson scored 13 points, grabbed six rebounds and recorded three assists and three steals.

Jon Goode led the Titans with 14 points, while Nemanja Jokic added 12 and Chris Hayes 10.

Detroit took its biggest lead of the game (23-16) with 7:02 to play in the first half as Goode hit a jumper. But the Vikings came roaring back as a Joe Davis layup with nine seconds left gave CSU a 30-29 lead. However, Goode hit a jumper on the baseline with two seconds to play in the half and the Titans went into the half with a one point lead, 31-30.

Detroit maintained that lead under a steal by George Tandy led to a transition three-pointer by Jackson which gave CSU a 42-40 lead with 12:10 to play in the game. The Vikings pushed the lead to as many as six (48-42) with 7:26 left, but Detroit scored six straight points to knot the score less than two minutes later.

Kevin Francis hit a pair of free throws and D'Aundray Brown added a layup as CSU extended the lead back to four points. The Vikings would not trail again, but it was not easy.

A Eulis Stephens three-pointer with 1:03 to play cut the CSU lead to one (57-56). After Bullock missed a jumper, the Titans had a chance to take the lead, but CSU forced a Detroit turnover. Bullock then hit a pair of free throws to push the lead to three (59-56) with 20 seconds left.

Goode had a chance to tie the game for the Titans, but his three-pointer rattled around and fell out. Breyohn Watson then split a pair of free throws with six seconds left to ice the game.

The Titans held a slim 32-31 lead on the boards, but committed 22 turnovers which CSU turned into 20 points. The Vikings also dominated Detroit in the paint, outscoring the Titans, 26-14.

CSU shot .365 (19-52) from the field and just 3-of-22 (.136) from three-point, but hit 19-of-22 (.864) from the charity striple. Detroit was 18-of-43 (.419) from the field, hitting 6-of-15 (.400) from three-point and 14-of-20 (.700) at the foul line.

The Vikings will conclude their three games in five days swing on Monday night when CSU hosts Milwaukee beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Wolstein Center.