Raiders capture Horizon victory

January 11, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

Butler and Cleveland State also came up with easy conference wins.

Associated *ress

VALPARAISO, Ind. — Todd Brown scored 19 points Saturday night and Wright State pulled away in the second half to a 64-48 victory over Valparaiso.

The Raiders (9-8, 3-3 Horizon League) threatened an early blowout, racing to a 27-7 lead before the Crusaders (5-12, 2-4) made a brief comeback.

Valparaiso closed within 28-19 at halftime and made it 28-22 on a 3-pointer by Michael Rogers early in the second period.

John David Gardner’s 3-pointer for Wright State ended Valparaiso’s rally, and the Raiders steadily pulled away the rest of the game. Gardner, who finished with 18 points, hit four straight free throws in the final two minutes to seal the win.

Troy Tabler added 11 points for Wright State.

Rogers led Valpo with 12 points and 15 rebounds, and De’Andre Haskins added 10 points.

No. 21 Butler 54, Detroit 50

INDIANAPOLIS — Matt Howard scored 11 of his 15 points in the second half, including two free throws with 0.8 seconds left, to help Butler stave off Detroit’s upset bid. The Bulldogs (14-1, 5-0) won their sixth straight overall and their 16th consecutive in Horizon League play despite an uncharacteristically poor performance, matching their best start in school history. Three players — Thomas Kennedy, Eulis Stephens and Eugene Blue — scored eight points apiece to lead Detroit (4-11, 0-6), which has not beaten a ranked opponent on the road since 1979.

Cleveland St. 79, Ill.-Chicago 69

CLEVELAND — Chris Moore scored 18 points and J’Nathan Bullock had 16 as Cleveland State grabbed an early lead and cruised over Illinois-Chicago.

Cleveland State (13-5, 4-2 Horizon League) rattled off 14 straight points early in the first half to take the lead for good.

The Vikings led by double digits for most of the game, although Illinois-Chicago (8-7, 1-4) closed to within six in the final minute on Tori Boyd’s 3-pointer. But Bullock responded with six straight free throws to ensure the win for Cleveland State.

Boyd scored 15 points, Jelani Poston added 14, Jeremy Buttell had 12 and Spencer Stewart 10 for Illinois-Chicago.

Cedric Jackson had 10 points and 10 assists for the Vikings.