Butler wins Horizon crown

ASSOCIATED PRESS

INDIANAPOLIS — Mike Green matched his career high with 24 points and No. 12 Butler used a big second-half run to beat Cleveland State 70-55 for its fifth Horizon League championship and first automatic berth in the NCAAs since 2001.

Butler (29-3) blew a 14-point lead in the first half but pulled away again midway through the second half and took a 60-44 lead with 6 minutes to go on consecutive 3-pointers by Drew Streicher and reserve Zach Hahn.

J’Nathan Bullock, who led Cleveland State (21-12) with 21 points, scored the next five for the Vikings, but they never came closer than 13 points the rest of the game.

South Carolina State 78,
Bethune-Cookman 69

RALEIGH, N.C. — Jason Flagler scored 23 points, and South Carolina State rallied in the second half to take a 78-69 victory over Bethune-Cookman in the first round of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament Tuesday night.

The eighth-seeded Bulldogs (13-19) will take on the tournament’s top seed, Morgan State (20-9), in the quarterfinals Wednessday night.

Jesse Burton scored 15 points for the Bulldogs, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range. Reserve Julius Carter scored 13 points and grabbed nine rebounds, while Everett Spencer added 12 for S.C. State.

Northern Arizona 75,
Weber State 70

PORTLAND, Ore. — Kyle Landry scored 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead Northern Arizona to a 75-70 over Weber State in the semifinals of the Big Sky Conference tournament.

Nate Geiser and Nick Larson each added nine points for the Lumberjacks (21-10). Josh Wilson chipped in eight points.

Daviin Davis led Weber State (16-14) with 19 points. Dezmon Harris scored 15 points for the Wildcats and Arturas Valeika had 12 points and 11 rebounds.