Bullock keys CSU win; Butler survives a scare

The Bulldogs have won five straight since their upset loss to the Vikings.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

CLEVELAND — J’Nathan Bullock scored 21 points and hit two critical free throws with 20 seconds left to lead Cleveland State past Detroit 60-56 on Saturday night.

With the Vikings (15-10, 8-5 Horizon League) holding onto a 57-56 lead, Bullock was fouled with 20 seconds left. He calmly hit both shots.

After Jon Goode missed a possible tying 3-pointer for the Titans (5-18, 1-12), Breyohn Watson rebounded for Cleveland State and was fouled. He added a free throw with six seconds left that clinched it.

Cedric Jackson added 13 points for the Vikings, who won despite being ourscored from the field. They hit 19 of 22 free throws to Detroit’s 14 of 20.

Goode had 14 points, Nemanja Jokic 12 and Chris Hayes 10 for the Titans.

No. 10 Butler 62,
Wisconsin-Green Bay 57

GREEN BAY, Wis. — A.J. Graves led four players in double figures with 16 points, and Butler survived a scare.

Mike Green scored 12 of his 14 points in the second half and Pete Campbell and Matt Howard each chipped in 10 apiece for the Bulldogs (21-2, 10-2 Horizon League), who have won five straight since a stunning upset loss at Cleveland State three weeks ago.

Terry Evans led the Phoenix (13-10, 7-6) with 14 points and 15 rebounds. Ryan Tillema also had 14 points, and Rahmon Fletcher added 12.

Graves made just 4-of-11 shots from the field, but he made six straight free throws over the final 1:27 to help clinch the win.

Both teams were coming off wins over Valparaiso, the Phoenix in overtime two days earlier and Butler two days before that.

After trailing 22-20 at the half and making just one their first 18 3-point attempts, the Bulldogs gradually took control in the second half, pulling ahead by as many 10.

Green Bay got within 49-47 with less than 4 minutes left, but Campbell hit back-to-back 3s to quell the rally.

The Bulldogs found their touch in the second half, hitting seven 3-pointers and shooting 52 percent overall after the break.

Green, who leads the Bulldogs in scoring, rebounding and assists, finished with team highs of seven rebounds, six assists and four steals.

Mike Schachtner had nine points and nine boards for Green Bay, which lost for just the second time at home this season but has dropped eight straight overall to Butler.

Ill.-Chicago 60,
Loyola of Chicago 55

CHICAGO — Josh Mayo had 18 of his game-high 21 points in the second half for Illinois-Chicago.

Mayo, who entered the game as the nation’s leading 3-point shooter, made only 3-of-8 shots from behind the arc. In the first half, his only points were a 3-pointer with 47 seconds left.

Illinois-Chicago (13-10, 7-5 Horizon League) led 28-17 at halftime, but Loyola (9-15, 5-8) came back, led by Leon Young, who had 12 points off the bench. Loyola twice pulled within three points, the last time when Andy Polka tipped in a rebound to cut Illinois-Chicago’s margin to 50-47 with 3:08 left.

Spencer Stewart hit a 3-pointer, and the Flames used 7-of-8 free throw attempts in the final 1:09 to keep its margin.

Karl White Jr. had 11 points for the Flames, while Scott VanderMeer had 14 rebounds. Young was the only Rambler to score in double figures.

UIC finished with 39 percent shooting from the field, hitting 21-of-54 attempts, while Loyola shot 35 percent with 23-of-65 from the field. The Flames, however, held a 13-6 advantage in free throws.