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Vikings' Win Streak Ends With Loss At Butler

Vikings' Win Streak Ends With Loss At Butler
Posted: Dec 02, 2006

Dec. 2, 2006

Final Stats

Contact: Brian McCann

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Cleveland State's four-game winning streak came to an end at the hand of Butler, 70-45, on Saturday (Dec. 2) night at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Cleveland State shot just 33 percent in the contest, which was the Horizon League opener for both teams. The Vikings are now 5-4 (0-1 HL) while Butler is 9-0 (1-0). 

 

CSU shot just 18-for-54 from the floor on the night and 4-of 19 from beyond the arc and never really could get into an offensive rhythm. The Vikings also were cold at the free throw line, making just five of 11 attempts. Conversely, Butler, ranked 18th in the country, shot 52 percent and made 15-of-17 at the free throw line.

 

Junior Kevin Francis and sophomore J'Nathan Bullock each led the Vikings with 11 points apiece, while Francis grabbed a game-high eight rebounds. Senior Patrick Tatham added eight points and five boards.

 

Neither team executed in the game's opening minutes, and Butler led 5-4 coming out of a timeout at the 15:16 mark as the Vikings could manage just a jumper by English and a Bullock lay-up. CSU took its first lead at 6-5 on a driving lay-up by Tatham. Butler's Marcus Nellems answered with a three-pointer on the next trip to give the Bulldogs an 8-6 lead.

 

The Bulldogs extended their lead to 22-15 at the 5:28 mark, but answered with five straight points before a bucket by Pete Campbell and an A.J. Graves trey made it 28-20 and forced a Cleveland State timeout at the 2:23 mark.

 

The Vikings would find themselves trailing, 35-22, at the half after the Bulldogs added a lay-up by Green and a three by Campbell with five seconds to go.

 

Mike Green had 16 points and eight rebounds for Butler while Graves added 10.

 

After Bullock banked in a runner in the lane to cut the Bulldogs' lead to nine at 39-30, but Graves answered with a bucket with 13:32 remaining to start the game's decisive 16-1 run to gave Butler a 57-32 lead with 6:45 left.

 

CSU did achieve a 30-29 rebounding edge and turned the ball over just 13 times.

 

The Vikings are back in action on Tuesday when they face Kansas State in Manhattan, Kan. at 8:00 p.m.