Wisconsin-Milwaukee knock Cleveland State out of first place

Wisconsin-Milwaukee knocked Cleveland State
out of first place.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

INDIANAPOLIS — Matt Howard scored 20 points and A.J. Graves broke out of a slump with 16 to lead No. 15 Butler to a 73-57 victory over Illinois-Chicago on Saturday.

It was the 12th straight game of double-figure scoring for Howard, a 6-foot-8 freshman, while Graves had his most points in more than a month.

Graves’ fourth 3-pointer ended a brief second-half comeback by the Flames (10-10, 4-5 Horizon League), then Howard scored the next six points and the Bulldogs (19-2, 8-2) took their biggest lead at 61-44 with under 8 minutes remaining.

Butler never trailed, took a 13-point lead at halftime and went up 46-30 with Graves’ third 3-pointer at the start of the second half.

Josh Mayo, the nation’s leader in 3-point percentage, then started UIC’s first comeback. Two straight baskets by Karl White cut Butler’s lead to 52-44 minutes later. After the next flurry of baskets by Graves and Howard, the Flames again rallied within 65-57 before four straight free throws by Butler’s Mike Green. Willie Veasley and Green added another basket each, and UIC didn’t score the rest of the game.

Green finished with 15 points and Julian Betko added 11 for Butler.

Wright St. 66, Detroit 57

DETROIT — Todd Brown scored 18 point and Scottie Wilson started a late run that helped Wright State win its third straight.

Wilson finished with 14 points and Jordan Pleiman added 13 for the Raiders (12-6, 5-4).

Jon Goode had 17 points and Chris Hayes added 15 for the Titans, whose losing streak reached 13 games.

Wis.-Milwaukee 79,
Cleveland State 71

MILWAUKEE — Ricky Franklin scored 18 points and Wisconsin-Milwaukee knocked the Vikings out of first place.

For Milwaukee, Marcus Skinner scored 15 points, Deion James and Paige Paulsen 13 each and Deonte Roberts 10.

Cedrick Jackson scored 16 points for Cleveland State.