HL Weekly Press Release

[Tipp City Raider]

Men's Basketball Release #1

Nov. 2, 2007

Bulldogs Take Top Spot in Preseason Poll

Butler opens the season as a near-unanimous favorite to win the 2008 Horizon League championship. The Bulldogs eclipsed the League's single-season record with 29 victories last year (29-7 overall including a 13-3 League ledger) and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Championship. This year's edition includes three returning starters, led by the backcourt tandem of preseason Player of the Year A.J. Graves and fellow senior Mike Green.

Graves was a First-Team All-League pick and earned All-America Honorable Mention from the Associated Press in 2006-07, averaging 16.9 points per game to rank fifth on the loop scoring charts. He canned a League-high 98 three-pointers to lead Butler's long-range arsenal and was tabbed the Most Valuable Player of the NIT Season Tip-Off after leading the Bulldogs to the tournament title. Graves also finished second in the nation with a .948 free-throw percentage.

Green earned Second-Team notice and the circuit's Newcomer of the Year trophy last winter, averaging 13.9 points, six rebounds and four assists per game. The carom count was eighth-best in the League, while he tied for second place on the loop assist list. A transfer from Towson University, Green started all 36 games for the Bulldogs last winter.


Opinions Vary in Wide-Open Race

Butler was picked first or second by all 46 voters in the League's preseason poll, but the race for the championship appears to be wide open, according to the results of the survey of media, coaches and sports information directors.

Butler was picked first by 42 voters, with the Bulldogs collecting 456 points in the balloting. Defending champion Wright State was second with 354 points despite not being picked first on any ballots. Green Bay received 333 points including a pair of first-place votes, with Milwaukee (325 points) fourth and Loyola (264 points) fifth. Loyola took the other two first-place votes.

League newcomer Valparaiso (227 points) edged Detroit (201) for sixth place, with UIC (171), Cleveland State (118) and Youngstown State (81) rounding out the field.

Opinions varied widely among the voters, though. Loyola was placed in every position on the list, and every school except Butler experienced at least a five-place range in the voting. Valparaiso, Detroit and UIC were all tabbed anywhere from second to tenth and Milwaukee was picked as high as second by some voters and as low as ninth by others.


Stevens Takes the Reins

Butler became the first team in League history to reach the top ten in the national polls, climbing to tenth in the AP rankings and ninth according to the ESPN/USA Today coaches' canvass on Feb. 5, 2007. The Sweet 16 appearance was Butler's second in the last five years, but BU has new leadership for the 2007-08 campaign after NABC National Coach of the Year Todd Lickliter took over at Iowa in April.

Lickliter's former assistant, Brad Stevens, was chosen as Butler's new boss three days later. At 30 years old, Stevens---a aide to Lickliter and Thad Matta for the past seven seasons---is the fourth-youngest head coach in Division I.


Welcome Aboard

The League's other new face on the sidelines stands on the opposite end of the experience spectrum as veteran coach Homer Drew brings Valparaiso into the Horizon League after a successful 25-year run in the Mid-Continent Conference.

Drew led the Crusaders to seven NCAA Tournament appearances during their Mid-Con run, posting 20 or more victories eight times. His 571 career victories (302 at Valpo) rank tenth among active Division I coaches.

Valparaiso concluded its Mid-Con tenure with a 16-15 record last season.


How Sweet (16) It Is

Butler earned an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament and made the most of its second chance with victories over Old Dominion (57-46) and Maryland (62-59) to advance to the regional semifinals. The Bulldogs' trek marked the League's third Sweet 16 participant in the last five years, joining Butler's
2002-03 team and the 2004-05 Milwaukee squad in that group.

The Horizon League ranks eighth among the 31 Division I conferences with those three Sweet 16 teams in the last five years. Only the Big East (15), Atlantic Coast (11), Big 12 (11), Southeastern (ten), Pacific-10 (eight), and Big Ten (seven) conferences, and Conference USA (five) have had more since 2003.

Butler's run came as a fifth seed in the NCAA Tournament, the League's second-highest seed since the field expanded to 64 teams in 1982. Loyola was a No. 4 seed in 1985 when the Ramblers advanced to the Sweet 16.


New Coach the Key to Success?

Wright State won its first-ever League championship last season, reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1993 with a 60-55 victory over Butler in the final game of the Horizon League Championship at the Ervin J. Nutter Center in Dayton, Ohio.

First-year Raider coach Brad Brownell made his third NCAA appearance in five years after guiding the Raiders to a 23-10 overall ledger---the school's most victories since moving to Division I in 1983---including a 13-3 League ledger. Brownell followed in the footsteps of Milwaukee boss Rob Jeter, who took the Panthers to the Big Dance in his (2005-06) debut campaign.

Wright State was just 5-6 on Dec. 27, but won 19 of its next 22 games to claim the League title. Guard DaShaun Wood was named the League's Player of the Year, topping the circuit in both scoring (19.6 points per game) and steals (1.94 per outing) while ranking fourth at 3.87 assists per contest. His graduation leaves sophomores Vaughn Duggins (9.0 points per game last season) and Todd Brown (8.6) as the anchors of the Raider backcourt.

Who Takes the Next Step?

Six of the League's top ten scorers from last season are gone, leaving many teams looking to underclassmen or newcomers for key contributions.

Youngstown State must replace two of the League's top ten scorers in Quin Humphrey (second at 18.8 points per game) and Keston Roberts (sixth with 16.3), while Loyola attempts to cover the 17.0 points-per-game norm of Blake Schilb (fourth in the League). UIC's Othyus Jeffers (eighth at 15.4 points per game and second with 8.6 rebounds per outing) and Green Bay's Ryan Evanochko (ninth at 15.0 points per game) are also among the departed veterans.

Detroit's Brandon Cotton (18.1) is the top returning scorer after finishing third in the League scoring chase last season. Butler's A.J. Graves (16.9) was fifth.

Five of the top ten rebounders are also gone, including Detroit's Ryvon Covile who ranked sixth in the nation at 10.6 caroms per contest. Loyola's Andy Polka (7.2) is the top returning rebounder, followed by Cleveland State's J'Nathan Bullock (6.5) and Youngstown State's Jack Liles (6.4).

Many of the League's top set-up artists are back in 2007-08, led by Butler's Mike Green and Youngstown State's Byron Davis. Green finished second in the circuit last year, dishing out four assists per contest, while Davis was fifth with a 3.87 per-game norm. UIC's Josh Mayo was sixth at 3.19, with Milwaukee's Alan Hanson ninth (2.90) and UIC's Spencer Stewart tenth (2.71).


Good Things Happen in 3's, For Pete's Sake

Perhaps Butler guard Pete Campbell was just making up for lost time. After sitting out the previous season as a transfer from IPFW, Campbell set Horizon League records for three-point accuracy last season. He hit 51.9 percent of his attempts behind the arc, including a loop-standard 58.1 percent in League play. Campbell averaged 12.4 points per game in the circuit and 9.1 overall, leading a Butler squad that set another League record with 321 triples, including a loop-standard 20 at Cleveland State on Feb. 8.

Green Bay led the League in three-point accuracy with a .383 mark from 19-9 and beyond. The Phoenix also finished sixth in the nation at the charity stripe with a .760 free-throw percentage.


Phoenix Hopes to Rise to the Top

Green Bay used a late-season surge to finish 18-15 overall and tied for fourth place in the regular-season standings with a 7-9 League ledger.

The Phoenix will rely on a strong junior class if Green Bay is to live up to its third-place status in the preseason poll. That cast includes forward Mike Schachtner, who ranked tenth in the League in scoring last season at 14.9 points per contest.

Schachtner was the only player in the League to finish among the circuit's top ten in all three shooting-percentage categories---second in free-throw accuracy (.912), third in three-point shooting (.456) and fifth in field-goal percentage (.493). Junior guard Ryan Tillema and sophomore guard Troy Cotton combined for another 100 treys last winter.

Another junior, forward Terry Evans earned his second consecutive All-Defensive Team award in 2006-07, rating second in the League in steals (1.70 per game), third in blocked shots (1.42 per outing) and seventh in rebounding (6.3 per game) last season.


Panthers Hope to Learn From Experience

Milwaukee had a string of four consecutive 20-win seasons end with last year's 9-22 record, but one thing is different about the 2007-08 edition of the Panthers.

After opening last season with only one player having started a Division I game, this year's group features four returning starters. The players on the current roster combined for 122 starts a year ago.

Senior forward Paige Paulsen provided that early touch of experience and averaged 11.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, while senior guard Avery Smith paced the team in scoring at 15.5 points per outing. That was the seventh-best mark in the League and included three games of 30 or more points.

Senior guard Allan Hanson topped the Panther charts with 90 assists (2.90 per game) while also averaging 7.7 points per contest. He led the team with 47 three-point field goals during the 2006-07 campaign.


Loyola Looking for 20/20 (Victory) Vision

Junior guard J.R. Blount wasn't even born the last time Loyola hit the 20-win mark (1984-85), but he will play a key role in determining whether the Ramblers get back to the same level after the graduation of Blake Schilb and Majak Kou, the team's top two scorers last season. Blount averaged 12.9 points per game as a sophomore and joins forwards Andy Polka and Leon Young as the core of this year's group.

Polka had an impressive freshman campaign with averages of 6.3 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, ranking third in the League off the boards. Young battled through a series of injuries to average 8.7 points and 5.6 caroms per contest.


Crusaders Crew Ready for New Horizon

Valparaiso joined the Horizon League this past summer after a 25-year run in the Mid-Continent Conference. Valpo attempts to make an immediate impact on the Horizon League with four returning starters, each of whom averaged more than 11 points per game a year ago.

Sophomore guard Samuel Haanpää was one of the nation's top three-point shooters in
2006-07, hitting 45.7 percent of his shots behind the arc while averaging 12 points per game. Junior forward Urule Igbavboa averaged 11.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, while senior guard Shawn Huff (11.4) and junior guard Brandon McPherson (11.3) complete the quartet of twin-figure scorers.

Valpo begins its first Horizon League schedule at defending champion Wright State on Dec. 6.

History Not a Good Sign for Valparaiso

The Crusaders will have to buck historical trends if Valparaiso hopes to win the Horizon League title.

Green Bay is the only school to win the championship in its first season in the Horizon League. UWGB was one of six new entries into the League for the 1994-95 season and advanced through the tournament bracket and defeated another new entry---Wright State---for the title and an NCAA berth.

Valparaiso is the League's first new entry since Youngstown State joined the circuit for the 2001-02 campaign.


Guards Lead Titans into Action

Ryvon Covile recorded 16 double-doubles and finished sixth in the nation in rebounding (10.6 per game) last season. But Detroit brings a new look into the 2007-08 campaign following his graduation, with one of the League's smallest players forced to carry an even larger burden.

Senior guard Brandon Cotton earned Second-Team All-League honors for the third consecutive season in 2006-07, finishing third on the League scoring charts at 18.1 points per game. Cotton averaged 14.5 field-goal attempts last winter, accounting for 28.3 percent of the team's scoring. His scoring pace and career total of 1,464 points are the highest among active League players.

Cotton's running-mate, senior Jon Goode, averaged 9.2 points per game despite only starting six games last season. He led UDM with 49 three-pointers a year ago.


Flames Extinguish Opponents' Shots

UIC junior center Scott VanderMeer shattered the Horizon League single-season record with 111 blocked shots last season (19 more than the previous standard). He also etched his name into the school and League record books with a single-game mark of nine rejections against Cleveland State on Jan. 27. The 6-11 VanderMeer needs only 54 more blocks to set the school mark. VanderMeer ranked fifth in the nation with his rate of 3.47 blocks per game and also averaged 5.6 rebounds per contest last season.

First-Team All-League performer Othyus Jeffers left the program after last season, putting more pressure on junior guard Josh Mayo to carry the scoring load for the Flames. Mayo ranked among the League leaders with 41 percent touch from three-point range while averaging 12.2 points per contest.

Senior guard Robert Bush could take some of that pressure off Mayo. Bush averaged 9.8 points per game after joining the starting line-up for the final nine outings last year.


Vikings Bring New Look

Cleveland State lost three starters and has only five returning letterwinners from last year's 10-21 squad, but head coach Gary Waters brings ten newcomers into the fold this season.

At the head of that list is junior guard Cedric Jackson, a two-year starter at St. John's before coming to CSU. Jackson opened 35 contests in his two seasons for the Big East Conference entry, averaging 4.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per outing as a sophomore in 2005-06.

Jackson joins a Viking backcourt group that lost three point guards but still includes sophomore Joe Davis, who averaged nine points per game as a freshman.

Up front, junior forward J'Nathan Bullock continued his steady play last winter, leading the team with a rate of 13.5 points per game. He also ranked fifth on the League rebounding charts, pulling down an average of 6.5 caroms per contest.


Penguins Attempt to Continue Resurgence

Youngstown State posted its best showing in six seasons last winter, finishing 14-17 overall
(7-9 in the League) and hosting a first-round game in the League Championship for the first time since joining the circuit in 2001.

To continue that climb, however, the Penguins will have to replace more than half of the team's scoring with the graduation of two-time First-Team All-League pick Quin Humphrey and Keston Roberts, who combined for 35 points per game a year ago, ranking second and sixth, individually at 18.8 and 16.3, respectively.

Senior guard Byron Davis chipped in with 8.6 points per contest, the most among the returning players, and ranked fifth in the League at 3.87 assists per contest. He scored in double figures 11 times last winter, including eight against League competition.

Junior forward Jack Liles and senior forward John Barber anchor the frontcourt for YSU. Liles finished fourth on the League rebounding charts at 6.4 per game last season, with Barber averaging 7.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per outing off the bench. Liles also averaged 7.4 points per game and ranked fourth in the League with 1.16 blocked shots per contest,


Teams Attempt to End Long Title Droughts

Butler carries the top spot in the League's preseason poll. The Bulldogs won 29 games last year but came up short in the League title tilt. That means BU aims for its first League title since 2001 this winter. Butler's four crowns (1997, 1998, 2000, 2001) are the most among the circuit's current members. Milwaukee is next with three (2003, 2005, 2006)

Two voters in the League's preseason poll predicted Green Bay to hoist t!he trophy in March. If that happens, it would be the second championship for the Phoenix, which won the crown in its first season in the League (1994-95).

Detroit has won the title twice (1994 and 1999) while UIC also has two League Championship trophies (2002 and 2004), but no school has endured a longer drought in the League than Loyola. One of the circuit's charter institutions, Loyola claimed its only loop crown in 1985.

Wright State won its first title last March, leaving Cleveland State, Youngstown State and Valparaiso as the only League schools without a title. Cleveland State joined the League in 1994 with Youngstown State moving into the loop in 2001 and Valparaiso coming aboard this past July.


Seeds Important in League Title Chase

Butler and Wright State shared the regular-season title with 13-3 loop ledgers in 2006-07 but Wright State earned the tie-breaker edge and home-court advantage for the League Champioonship by virtue of a sweep of third-place Loyola. The Ramblers' victory at Hinkle Fieldhouse in the last week of the regular season earned a split of the series with Butler.

The Raiders used that home-court atmosphere to ride to its first-ever League title, edging BU 60-55 in the championship showdown in front of a packed house at the Ervin J. Nutter Center.

Loyola (10-6) pulled away from the rest of the field to finish three games ahead of three teams who shared fourth place at 7-9. Green Bay drew the fourth seed for the League tournament, with Youngstown State fifth and UIC slated sixth. All three of those schools earned first-round home dates, with YSU drawing that edge for the first time in the school's six-year tenure in the League.

Just one game kept Milwaukee and Detroit (each 6-10) away from a home date, forcing Milwaukee to travel to UIC and sending the Titans to Youngstown State. Cleveland State (3-13) finished at the bottom of the standings and had to go to Green Bay for its first-round match-up.

For the second consecutive year, all seeds held true at the League summit, with Green Bay (78-59),Youngstown State (82-80) and UIC (83-77) winning at home to advance to Dayton. The Phoenix then ousted the Penguins 72-55 while Loyola avenged two regular-season losses by eliminating cross-town foe UIC 66-62 in the second round.

In the semifinals, Butler and Loyola met for the third time, with the Bulldogs posting their second overtime victory over the Ramblers, 67-66. Wright State dispatched Green Bay 67-51 in the other semifinal before earning an automatic NCAA Tournament entry with a 60-55 victory in the final.


Ten Teams, But Same Format for League Championship in 2008

The addition of Valparaiso brings the League's membership to ten schools for 2007-08. It also means one additional first-round game for the 2008 Horizon League Men's Basketball Championship, putting added emphasis on finishing first or second in the regular-season standings.

The top two seeds earn byes into the semifinals, while the third-place team will now have a first-round contest against the tenth-seeded team. Seeds 4-6 host other first-round action, against the teams seeded ninth through seventh, respectively. The winners of those four games will now meet in second-round action, at the home of the top seed.

The home-court advantage has loomed large in recent years, with the top seed winning the title in each of the last three years. Milwaukee edged Detroit 59-58 in 2005 and defeated Butler 87-71 in 2006 at U.S. Cellular Arena before Wright State slipped past the Bulldogs at the Nutter Center last March.


Want to Play in the National Title Game?

Play the Horizon League in the Tournament

Butler advanced to the regional semifinals of the NCAA Tournament before losing to eventual champion Florida last spring. That combination of events marked the third year in a row that the school eliminating a Horizon League team reached the national championship game.

The Gators also ousted 2006 Horizon League titlist Milwaukee in the second round of that year's national summit en route to their first national crown, while Illinois scored a third-round victory over UWM's Panthers in 2005 on the way to its runner-up finish. North Carolina defeated the Fighting Illini in the championship game that year.


Detroit to Host Regional Championships

The Horizon League's tradition of hosting premier NCAA championship events continues this season as Detroit hosts regional competition in the 2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Championships. The event is scheduled for March 28 and 30 at Ford Field, home of the NFL's Detroit Lions.

Detroit then will host the Final Four in 2009 (April 4 and 6), one week after Butler and the Horizon League co-host a men's regional at Lucas Oil Stadium (future home of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts) on March 27 and 29.

Championship action returns to Indianapolis the following two years when Butler and the League host the Men's Final Four in 2010 and the Women's Final Four in 2011.

In the past three years, the League office and/or member institutions have hosted a women's volleyball regional (at Green Bay in 2004), two men's basketball opening rounds (in Cleveland and Indianapolis in 2005), two Women's Final Fours (Indianapolis in 2005 and Cleveland in 2007), a women's basketball regional (in Cleveiand in 2006), a Men's Final Four (in Indianapolis in 2006) and a men's golf regional (in Cleveland in 2006).

horizonleague.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/110507aaa.html

[Tipp City Raider]

Men's Basketball Release #2
Nov. 12, 2007

Horizon League Player of the Week

Josh Mayo, UIC
Junior * Guard * Merrillville, Ind. (Merrillville H.S.)
Josh Mayo won the award for the second time after posting a career-high 34 points in the Flames' season-opening 84-75 victory over Bradley on Saturday. He hit 11 of 17 shots from the field, including three three-pointers, while finishing a perfect nine-for-nine at the charity stripe. The last triple came with a minute remaining, putting the Flames ahead by nine and securing the victory. Mayo added four assists and a team-best five rebounds along with two steals.

Other Top Performances for the Week Ending November 11

Pete Campbell, Butler
Sr. * F * Muncie, Ind.
Campbell hit five three-pointers and scored a team-high 17 points in the Bulldogs' 61-45 victory at Ball State on Friday. Campbell made a triumphant return to his hometown with three treys in a second-half run as Butler took command after Ball State closed within eight points.

J'Nathan Bullock, Cleveland State
Jr. * F * Flint, Mich.
Bullock led the Vikings to a 73-70 victory at South Florida on Friday, setting career highs for points (26) and steals (five) while adding ten rebounds for his eighth career double-double. He was a perfect 13-of-13 at the line, including two with 4.6 seconds left to seal the victory.

Jon Goode, Detroit
Sr. * G * Flint, Mich.
Goode hit the buzzer-beating three-pointer to lift Detroit past Kent State 61-60 on Saturday. It was his fifth trey of the game as Goode paced the Titans with 22 points and five assists. He was perfect in four shots behind the arc after intermission.

Mike Schachtner, Green Bay
Jr. * F * Somerset, Wis.
Schachtner scored a team-high 23 points and pulled down seven rebounds in Green Bay's season-opening 76-75 victory over Oakland on Friday. The Preseason First-Team All-League choice hit eight of 18 shots from the floor and five of six free-throw attempts.

J.R. Blount, Loyola
Jr. * G * Milwaukee, Wis.
Blount's 21 points led Loyola to a 73-57 victory over LeMoyne on Saturday. He hit six of 12 shots from the field and nine of ten at the free-throw line while adding four rebounds, four assists and three steals as the Ramblers won their season-opener for the fourth year in a row.

Torre Johnson, Milwaukee
Sr. * F * Milwaukee, Wis.
Johnson posted a double-double with 16 points and ten rebounds in his Panther debut, leading Milwaukee past Upper Iowa 78-53 on Friday. The transfer from Oklahoma State played only 20 minutes in the one-sided victory and also blocked three shots.


Bulldogs open state tour with victory
Butler opened the 2007-08 campaign with a 61-45 victory at Ball State on Friday. The Bulldogs, who canned a League-record 321 three-pointers on the way to a 29-7 mark last year, hit eight treys against the Cardinals.

Senior forward Pete Campbell led the way with 17 points, including five triples in his return to his hometown of Muncie, Ind. Three of those came in a second-half run after BSU closed to within 39-31.

The victory was the first for new Butler head coach Brad Stevens, who assumed the reins after Todd Lickliter was named head coach at Iowa in April.

Senior guards A.J. Graves and Mike Green each tallied 11 points in the victory. Graves was four-for-eight from the floor with three treys while adding four rebounds and three assists, while Green led the team with six rebounds and handed out two assists.

Freshman forward Matt Howard made an impressive debut with 14 points along with five rebounds and a team-high four helpers. He was five-of-nine from the field in 26 minutes of action.

Butler faces two more instate rivals this week before departing for the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout. BU hosts Indiana State on Wednesday and travels to Evansville on Saturday.

Vikings make statement in Sunshine State
Cleveland State posted a 73-70 victory at Florida State in its season debut Friday. The Vikings defeated a Big East Conference opponent for the first time in program history.

Junior forward J'Nathan Bullock notched his eighth career double-double with a career-high 26 points and ten rebounds. He hit all 13 of his free-throw attempts and also logged four assists and a collegiate-best five steals. It was the eighth time Bullock has hit the 20-point mark in a Viking uniform.

Bullock was only a 59 percent shooter at the line as a freshman but improved to 74.8 percent last season.

Junior guard Cedric Jackson endured early foul trouble in his Cleveland State debut but scored 14 points in the second half to finish with a career-high 18 in the game. Jackson's stat line included three reounds, two steals and an assist.

Junior center Chris Moore also made his Viking debut at Tampa, scoring nine points with five rebounds and two blocked shots in 25 minutes.

The Vikings visit George Mason on Tuesday before returning to Florida for a three-game tournament. CSU takes on Georgia Southern on Friday and challenges Florida State on Saturday prior to the finale on Sunday against Florida Atlantic.

Titans get Goode results in season-opener
Detroit registered a 61-60 victory over Kent State on Saturday. The Titans are now 78-23 all-time in season-openers, including 13-2 under veteran coach Perry Watson.

Senior guard Jon Goode led the way with 22 points including the game-winning three-pointer as time expired. Goode had five triples in the game while also collecting four rebounds and five assists.

The victory was even more impressive considering it came without senior guard Brandon Cotton. The senior guard was reinstated from a team suspension but did not play against the Golden Flashes. Cotton averaged 18.1 points per game last season and was a Preseason First-Team All-League selection last month.

Junior forward Chris Hayes was the only other Titan in double figures with ten points and six rebounds. Hayes made three of four shots both from the field and at the line while canning his only three-point attempt.

Senior guard Zach Everingham posted nine points, five rebounds, five assists and four blocked shots against KSU. Everingham had only four blocks in his 92-game career entering the season. Sophomore forward Nemanja Jokic added nine points and seven rebounds in Saturday's victory.

The Titans have only one game this week, visiting Saint Louis on Wednesday.

Phoenix wins debut, prepares for spotlight
Green Bay edged Oakland 76-75 in its season debut Friday behind 23 points and seven rebounds from junior forward Mike Schachtner. The Phoenix is now 31-8 in home openers through the years.

Friday marked a rare home appearance for the Phoenix, which has only two more dates at the Resch Center before Dec. 22.

Schachtner hit eight of 18 shots from the field and five of his six free-throw attempts against the Golden Grizzlies. His basket with 4:18 remaining put Green Bay ahead to stay, and the Preseason First-Team All-Horizon League honoree added three free throws in the final 23 seconds.

Freshman guard Rahmon Fletcher scored 14 points in his collegiate debut, hitting six of ten shots from the field while also recording three assists and two steals. Junior guard Ryan Tillema was the third Phoenix player in double figures with 11 points, while junior forward Terry Evans posted eight points, seven rebounds and five assists.

Green Bay hits the national spotlight Monday, visiting 2006-07 national runner-up Ohio State in the opening round of the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off on ESPN2. The Phoenix faces either Columbia or Delaware State on Tuesday before heading east for Saturday's contest at Massachusetts.

Ramblers keep winning at home
Loyola began the season with a 73-57 victory over LeMoyne on Saturday. Three players scored in double figures for the Ramblers, who forced 20 turnovers and are now 15-1 in their last 16 regular-season non-League contests at the Gentile Center.

Junior guard J.R. Blount scored a game-high 21 points for Loyola, hitting half of his 12 shots from the field and nine of ten tries from the free-throw line while adding four rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Blount has started 37 consecutive contests for the Ramblers, dating back to the 2005-06 season. Loyola is 5-1 in the last two years when he scores 20 or more points.

Sophomore forward Ross Forman made an auspicious Rambler debut, scoring 19 points with five rebounds. The transfer from Wyoming canned seven of ten shots from the field.

Junior forward Leon Young added 14 points with eight rebounds. He has averaged 12.7 points and 9.3 boards in three season-openers at Loyola. Sophomore forward Andy Polka posted seven points and a team-high nine rebounds for the Ramblers.

Loyola has two games on the schedule this week. The Ramblers take on instate rival Eastern Illinois on Tuesday in a re-match of last year's BracketBusters pairing, before hosting Western Michigan on Friday.


Panthers spread the wealth, playing time
Newcomers dominated the highlights in Milwaukee's 78-53 victory over Upper Iowa on Friday. A total of ten players saw at least 10 minutes of action with only senior forward Paige Paulsen (23) playing more than 20 minutes.

Milwaukee is now 7-3 in its last ten season debuts, losing only to Iowa (2000), Wisconsin (2002) and Memphis (2005).

The Panthers' top four scorers were all making their UWM debuts Friday. Freshman forward Tim Flowers scored a team-high 18 points on seven-of-12 shooting, while senior forward Torre Johnson added 16 points, ten rebounds and three blocked shots. Johnson canned six of eight shots from the floor and all four free-throw attempts.

Flowers was the first true freshman to start a season opener for Milwaukee since James Wright started against Iowa in 2000.

Freshman forward Anthony Hill registered ten points and five rebounds off the bench with freshman guard Deonte Roberts contributing eight points.

Milwaukee forced 28 turnovers, recording 20 steals against UIU. The theft count was the third-highest total in the Panthers' Division I history and the most since the 2000-01 campaign.

The Panthers travel to Ball State on Wednesday before closing the week with a Sunday matinee against Northern Iowa.


Flames ride Mayo's shooting past Bradley
UIC scored an 84-75 victory over Bradley in its season opener at the Pavilion on Saturday. Junior guard Josh Mayo scored a career-high 34 points on 11-of-17 shooting with four assists and five rebounds. The 34 points were eight more than his previous collegiate best.

As a team, the Flames shot 54 percent (29-of-54) from the floor including nine-of-13 from three-point range.

Mayo also finished nine-of-nine at the free-throw line and has now made 27 in a row dating back to the start of the 2007 Horizon League Championship. He was 18-for-18 in the League tournament a year ago.

Freshman forward Tori Boyd chipped in with 11 points against Bradley, including two key three-pointers to spark a 9-0 first-half run. Sophomore guard Spencer Stewart was the third Flame in double figures with ten points and six assists.

Junior center Scott VanderMeer blocked five shots. The seven-footer set school and Horizon League records with 111 rejections last season, finishing fifth in the nation with a rate of 3.47 per game. VanderMeer blocked five or more shots ten times during the 2006-07 campaign.

The Flames host Illinois-Springfield on Tuesday before heading to the Virgin Islands for the Paradise Jam. UIC opens that tournament Friday versus Winthrop and will face either Charlotte or Georgia Tech in the next round.


Perfect start for the League
As a group, Horizon League teams posted a 7-0 record last week, including two victories over the Mid-American Conference and one each against the Big East Conference and Missouri Valley Conference.

Two of the circuit's final three teams open play this weekend as League newcomer Valparaiso hosts Grace in the first round of the South Padre Island Invitational on Monday before traveling to IPFW on Thursday. The Crusaders, who return 94 percent of the team's scoring from last season, make their Horizon League debut after a successful 25-year run in the Mid-Continent Conference.

Youngstown State makes its 2007-08 debut Monday night at UCLA, visiting the famed Pauley Pavilion for a nationally-televised (ESPN2) contest to open the O"Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic. YSU meets either UC San Bernardino or Weber State on Tuesday before returning home for a Saturday date versus Lock Haven.

Defending League champion Wright State opens the 2007-08 schedule next Monday versus Coastal Carolina. That is the Raiders' only action before Nov. 28.

The Youngstown State/UCLA game is the second of two ESPN2 broadcasts featuring Horizon League teams on Monday. Green Bay's contest at Ohio State is also scheduled to air on the network.

horizonleague.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/111207aaf.html

[Tipp City Raider]

Men's Basketball Release #3
Nov. 19, 2007

Horizon League Player of the Week
Cedric Jackson, Cleveland State
Cedric Jackson averaged 21.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists in four games last week, helping lead the Vikings to a second-place finish at the Glenn Wilkes Classic. The transfer from St. John's University scored a career-high 27 points to pace CSU past Florida State in overtime on Saturday, hitting the 20-point mark for the third consecutive game. He shot 54 percent (26-of-48) from the field last week, including eight three-pointers.

Other Top Performances for the Week Ending November 18
A.J. Graves, Butler
Sr. * G * Switz City, Ind.
Graves led the Bulldogs to back-to-back victories over Missouri Valley Conference foes Indiana State and Evansville, shooting 57.9 percent (11-of-19) from three-point range in averaging 24 points per contest. He had a game-high 26 against ISU and poured in 22 at Evansville.

Josh Samarco, Detroit
So. * G * Ypsilanti, Mich.
Samarco kept the Titans in contention at Saint Louis on Wednesday in the team's only game of the week. The sophomore led all scorers with 16 points on six-of-11 shooting from the field with four three-pointers. He had 13 points after intermission.

Mike Schachtner, Green Bay
Jr. * F * Somerset, Wis.
Schachtner averaged 18.3 points and five rebounds in three games last week, shooting 67 percent (24-for-36) from the field. He scored 20 points in Saturday's loss at Massachusetts after an 18-point outing against Delaware State when he hit eight of nine shots from the floor.

J.R. Blount, Loyola
Jr. * G * Milwaukee, Wis.
Blount averaged 18 points in two contests for the Ramblers. He finished with a game-high 21 points in Friday's two-point loss to Western Michigan, adding four assists and five steals against the Broncos. Blount led LU with 15 points in Tuesday's victory over Eastern Illinois.

Torre Johnson, Milwaukee
Sr. * F * Milwaukee, Wis.
Johnson notched his second double-double of the year with 19 points and 13 rebounds as UWM defeated Ball State on Wednesday, and just missed another when he posted 29 points and nine rebounds in Sunday's loss to Northern Iowa. He also blocked six shots in the two games.

Jake Diebler, Valparaiso
Jr. * G * Upper Sandusky, Ohio
Diebler hit double figures for the fourth time in his career, tying for team scoring honors with ten points in Thursday's victory over local rival IPFW. He also set a career-best with six assists against the Mastodons. Diebler posted five points and two assists against Grace on Monday.

Byron Davis, Youngstown State
Sr. * F * Detroit, Mich.
Davis scored 49 points in three games last week, posting 19 in a three-point victory over Weber State on Tuesday and adding 19 in 15 minutes against Lock Haven on Saturday. He shot 56 percent (18-of-32) from the field with 11 assists for the week.

News From Around the League
Bulldogs complete sweep of state foes
Butler stands at 3-0 following a pair of victories over Missouri Valley Conference foes. The Bulldogs defeated Indiana State 76-48 on Wednesday and posted a 60-47 victory at Evansville on Saturday after opening the season with a triumph at Ball State.

Wednesday's victory ended a three-game losing streak to ISU, as none of the current Bulldogs had ever defeated the Sycamores.

Senior guard A.J. Graves scored 48 points, giving him 1,403 in his career. Graves needs 36 more to pass Bobby Plump (1954-58) for tenth place on the all-time BU scoring charts. He also has 222 three-pointers, trailing only Bruce Horan (314 from 2002-06) in school history.

Senior guard Mike Green posted 15 points and team-high totals of eight rebounds and four assists versus ISU.

Butler has held each of its first three opponents under 50 points, allowing an average of 46.7 per contest. Last year, BU ranked fifth in the nation with a yield of 57.1 points per outing and held 12 foes under the 50-point mark.

The Bulldogs, ranked 25th in the latest AP poll and 23rd according to ESPN/USA Today, heads to Alaska for the Great Alaska Shootout. BU opens against Michigan on Wednesday, attempting to duplicate its result from the team's last trip to the Last Frontier. Butler captured the title of the Top of the World Classic in 2001.

Crusaders strong in League debut
Valparaiso is 2-0 for the third year in a row after opening the season with a pair of victories last week. The Crusaders routed Grace College 90-59 on Monday and posted a 74-64 victory at IPFW on Friday.

The team's balance was evident Monday with seven different players scoring at least eight points and four finishing in double figures. That trend continued Friday with eight different players posting between seven and ten points at Fort Wayne. No player made more than three field goals or grabbed more than four rebounds against IPFW.

Senior guard Jarryd Loyd was the only Valpo player to hit double figures in both contests (14 and 10 points, respectively). Senior guard Shawn Huff handed out a career-high seven assists and matched his collegiate bests with eight rebounds and two steals versus Grace.

Valpo hit ten three-pointers in the opener and went nine-for-15 from behind the arc against IPFW. Eight different Crusaders have hit at least one triple already in 2007-08.

The Crusaders face a busy schedule this week, with three games as part of the South Padre Island Invitational. Valpo visits Vanderbilt on Tuesday before heading to south Texas for games against Maryland-Eastern Shore (Friday) and either Austin Peay or Florida Gulf Coast (Saturday).

Panthers rally for one win, fall short at home
Milwaukee split a pair of games last week, moving to 2-1 on the season after outlasting Ball State 81-74 in overtime on Wednesday and falling 73-66 at home to Northern Iowa on Sunday.

Senior forward Torre Johnson notched his second consecutive double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds at BSU and added a season-high 29 points with nine caroms on Sunday. He leads the League in both scoring (21.3 points per game) and rebounding (10.7) in the early going.

Senior forward Paige Paulsen scored all 19 of his points after intermission Wednesday, hitting four three-pointers while also collecting seven rebounds. Paulsen added 11 points against UNI and is averaging 12.3 per outing so far this season.

The Panthers rallied from a 17-point, second-half deficit against Ball State in the school's best comeback in six years. Milwaukee overcame a 21-point deficit to defeat Virginia Tech in overtime on Dec. 8, 2001. Milwaukee was just 3-15 when trailing at halftime in 2006-07.

Milwaukee hosts South Dakota State on Tuesday, trying to get to 3-1 for only the third time in the last eight years. UWM is 19-18 in November and 34-25 in December over the last seven-plus years but has won three League Championships during that time. The Panthers close the week at home against Drake on Saturday.

Newcomers start quickly for Penguins
Youngstown State carries a 2-1 record into the week. The Penguins suffered an 83-52 loss at second-ranked UCLA in their season debut but came back to defeat Weber State 69-66 on Tuesday and post a comfortable 95-55 victory over Lock Haven on Friday.

The Penguins scored 60 points in the first half Friday, marking the school's best showing in the opening 20 minutes since Feb. 24, 1992, when YSU scored 60 points before intermission in a 107-68 triumph over Pittsburgh-Bradford.

Sophomore guard Vance Cooksey and freshman guard Vytas Sulskis have been key contributors for the Penguins. The newcomers combined for 55 points, 15 assits and 24 rebounds in the three games. Sulskis was the first true freshman since 2000-01 and the fourth in the last 18 years to start the season-opener for YSU. Cooksey sat out last year to concentrate on academics and did not practice with the team.

Thirteen of the 14 players on the Penguin roster have scored a point this season. The only one without a marker is junior guard Mikko Niemi, who ranks third on the team with nine assists. Senior guard Byron Davis leads the way, averaging 16.3 points and 3.7 assists per game.

YSU is idle until Saturday, when the Penguins visit Notre Dame.

Ramblers take a break after home loss
Loyola stands at 2-1 on the year following a 63-61 homecourt loss to Western Michigan on Friday. The Ramblers opened the week with a 72-65 victory at Eastern Illinois on Tuesday.

Junior guard J.R. Blount averaged 18 points in the two conests, including a 21-point showing against WMU. Blount also had four assists and five steals in that contest and is the only Rambler to reach double figures in all three games so far this year. He ranks sixth in the League at 19 points per game. Blount has started 39 consecutive contests for Loyola, dating back to the 2005-06 campaign.

Junior forward Leon Young and sophomore forward Andy Polka average 11.3 apiece in support of Blount's 19.0 pace. Senior forward Tracy Robinson has converted all ten of his free-throw attempts and has canned 12 in a row dating back to last year. Robinson is averaging 10.3 points per game as the fourth Ramblers in double figures.

Through three games, Loyola has made more free throws (55) than its opponents have attempted (39). The Ramblers have made five fewer field goals than their opponents (74-69) but boast a plus-7.0 points-per-game scoring margin.

The Ramblers are off until a Saturday matinee at Purdue. The seven-day layoff between games is the longest of the year for Loyola.

Vikings warm up in Florida sun
Cleveland State moved to 3-2 on the year, including a 3-1 finish in the Glenn WIlkes Classic. The Vikings let a late lead slip away in a 72-70 loss to Georgia Southern on Friday but outlasted Florida State 69-66 in overtime Saturday and defeated Florida Atlantic 76-66 to close the tournament in Daytona Beach, Fla.

CSU's three victories include triumphs over teams from the Big East Conference (73-70 versus South Florida on Nov. 9) and the Atlantic Coast Conference (FSU).

Junior guard Cedric Jackson led the way for the Vikings, scoring 27 points with eight rebounds and four steals against the Seminoles. Jackson has three 20-point efforts already this season, including a 21-point, nine-assist, five-rebound effort against Georgia Southern. He ranks second in the League at 20.6 points per game and leads the circuit at 4.80 assists per contest.

Jackson and junior forward J'Nathan Bullock earned all-tournament honors. Bullock averaged 21.3 points and 7.8 rebounds in four tourney games, including a 15-point, ten-rebound double-double against Goergia Southern and a 25-point showing versus Florida Atlantic.

After playing five games on the road in ten days, CSU makes its Wolstein Center debut Saturday against John Carroll. The Vikings are at home for eight of their next ten contests.

Phoenix shot down on the road
Green Bay slipped to 2-2 on the season, falling at Ohio State 91-68 in the opening round of the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off on Monday before coming back for a 70-50 victory over Delaware State the following day. The Phoenix suffered a 93-78 setback at Massachusetts on Saturday, when the Minutemen canned 15 three-pointers.

Junior forward Mike Schachtner averaged 18.3 points and five rebounds in the three games last week, hitting 24 of 36 field-goal attempts. He hit the 20-point mark for the second time this season at UMass and added 18 points in the victory over Delaware State.

As a team, the Phoenix shot 57.1 percent (24-of-42) against DSU but managed only 42.6 percent (55-of-129) accuracy in the other two games.

Schachtner is tied for fourth in the League in scoring, averaging 19.5 points per game and leading the team in that category in each outing this year. Junior forward Terry Evans has been the top Green Bay rebounder in every game, ranking third in the League at 7.8 caroms per contest. freshman guard Rahmon Fletcher adds a rate of 10.3 points per outing.

The Phoenix returns to action Saturday, hosting North Dakota State---one of three Summit League foes among the first seven dates on the Phoenix schedule.

Flames have bumpy ride in Virgin Islands
UIC carries a 2-2 ledger (prior to Monday afternoon's game versus Wichita State), dropping the first two games at the Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands. The Flames fell 72-58 to Winthrop on Friday and fell victim to a late three-pointer in Saturday's 64-63 loss to Charlotte.

UIC opened the week by defeating Illinois-Springfield 81-55 on Tuesday as four Flames scored in double figures. Junior center Scott VanderMeer led the way with 19 points and five blocked shots, while sophomore forward Jeremy Buttell logged a double-double with 13 points and ten rebounds.

Junior guard Josh Mayo has scored in double figures in all four games this season, posting 16 points against Winthrop and 15 versus Charlotte after a 34-point debut versus Bradley. Mayo is tied for fourth place on the loop scoring charts at 19.5 points per game while also averaging four assists per contest.

VanderMeer has 16 blocked shots this season after eclipsing the League single-season record with 111 rejections last year. He is on pace to break the school career standard---currently held by Sherell Ford (164 from 1992-95) later this winter. The seven-footer also averages 11 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in 2007-08.

The Flames take time off for the Thanksgiving holiday before returning to the court Nov. 28 at Central Michigan.

Titans suffer losses on floor, roster
Detroit dropped its only game of the week, suffering a 66-58 setback at Saint Louis on Wednesday to slip to 1-1 on the season.

Sophomore guard Josh Samarco led Detroit with 16 points---13 in the second half---at Saint Louis. He hit six of 11 shots from the field, including four three-pointers.

Junior forward Chris Hayes leads the League in field-goal percentage, hitting nine of 11 shots (81.8 percent) in two games. The junior is averaging 12 points in 18.5 minutes per game, ranking second on the team in scoring. Senior guard Jon Goode leads the Titans at 16 points per contest.

Senior guard Brandon Cotton has left the team. He is the second member of the Preseason All-League First Team to leave his respective program (Milwaukee's Avery Smith was dismissed from the Panther program earlier this month) before playing a game in 2007-08. Cotton was a three-time Second-Team All-League selection and posted 1,464 points as a Titan.

Through two games, Detroit is shooting better from three-point range (.439) than inside the arc (.412).

The Titans face a busy schedule this week, beginning Monday at home against Western Michigan. UDM also hosts Chicago State on Wednesday before battling Rochester College at Calihan Hall on Saturday.

Raiders finally hit the hardwood
Defending League champion Wright State makes its long-awaited season debut Monday night, hosting Coastal Carolina. The Raiders are one of only two Division I teams that have not yet played an official game, with Arizona State drawing the honor as the final starter later Monday evening against Illinois.

Wright State won its first Horizon League Championship in 2006-07, finishing the season with a 23-10 record that included a 13-3 League ledger.

WSU must replace the League's Player of the Year in DaShaun Wood, who led the circuit in scoring (19.6 points per game) and steals (1.94 per outing). Sophomore guards Vaughn Duggins and Todd Brown will play larger roles this season. Both were members of the League's All-Newcomer Team last season, averaging 9.0 and 8.6 points per game, respectively.

Brown led the Raiders with 16 points in their 66-54 exhibition victory over Indianapolis on Nov. 5. Duggins added 13 and freshman guard Troy Tabler added 11 in his first collegiate action. The Raiders committed only seven turnovers in the contest.

Monday's match-up is WSU's only action until a Nov. 28 meeting with Marshall. The Raiders will have played only three games before opening the League schedule Dec. 6 against Valparaiso.

horizonleague.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/111907aac.html

[Tipp City Raider]

Men's Basketball Release #4

Nov. 26, 2007

Horizon League Player of the Week
Mike Green, Butler
Senior * Guard * Philadelphia, Pa.
(Franklin Learning Center / Towson Univ.)
Mike Green was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Great Alaska Shootout after leading the Bulldogs to the tournament title with victories over Michigan, Virginia Tech and Texas Tech. He averaged 20 points, 6.7 assists and four rebounds per game, including 23 points in each of BU's final two tourney contests. Green started the week with 14 points and eight assists against Michigan. The senior guard shot 53 percent (21-of-40) from the field, including seven-of-eight accuracy from three-point range. He posted a tournament-high 20 assists with only five turnovers in the three games.

Other Top Performances for the Week Ending November 25
Chris Moore, Cleveland State
Jr. * C * Lakewood, Ohio
Moore turned in a solid all-around effort in the Vikings' 67-57 victory over John Carroll on Saturday. He set career highs with nine rebounds, five blocked shots and four free throws made, finishing the game with six points and a pair of steals.

Chris Hayes, Detroit
Jr. * F * Chicago, Ill.
Hayes led the Titans to a 2-1 record last week, averaging 14 points per game. He had a career-best 16 points versus Chicago State on Wednesday and matched that total against Rochester on Saturday. Hayes shot 58 percent (17-of-29) from the field in the three games.

Terry Evans, Green Bay
Jr. * F * St. Louis, Mo.
Evans registered 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists to lead the Phoenix past North Dakota State 85-77 on Saturday. His all-around performance also included three steals and two blocked shots. Evans hit six of 11 shots from the field and and three of four at the free-throw line.

J.R. Blount, Loyola
Jr. * G * Milwaukee, Wis.
Blount scored a team-high 17 points in Saturday's loss at Purdue, converting on six of 11 shots from the field and all four free-throw attempts. The junior guard has scored in double figures in all four games this season for the Ramblers and is averaging 18.5 points per contest.

Scott VanderMeer, UIC
Jr. * C * Dyer, Ind.
VanderMeer posted ten points, seven rebounds and five blocked shots Monday against Wichita State in the Flames' final game at the Paradise Jam. The seven caroms led the team, while he recorded five blocks for the fourth time this season.

Urule Igbavboa, Valparaiso
Jr. * F * Oakdale, Minn.
Igbavboa averaged 11.3 points and 9.7 rebounds in three games. He had a game-high 11 caroms against Vanderbilt on Tuesday and scored 15 points on six-of-eight shooting against Maryland-Eastern Shore on Friday before an 11-point effort against Austin Peay on Saturday.

Todd Brown, Wright State
So. * F * Canton, Ohio
Brown led the Raiders to a season-opening 71-48 victory over Coastal Carolina on Monday, scoring a game-high 20 points with four rebounds and four assists. He was four-of-seven from three-point range and perfect in four free-throw attempts.

John Barber, Youngstown State
Sr. * F * Detroit, Mich.
Barber notched the fifth double-double of his career with a career-best 19 points and 12 rebounds in an 87-75 loss at Notre Dame on Saturday. Barber canned three three-pointers among a 7-of-14 showing from the floor. The 12 boards also tied his career high.

News From Around the League

Bulldogs duplicate tournament success
For the second year in a row, Butler captured the top prize in one of the nation's most prestigious early-season tournaments. After winning the NIT Season Tip-Off in 2006, the Bulldogs added the Great Alaska Shootout crown to their trophy case after defeating Michigan (79-65), Virginia Tech (84-78 in overtime) and Texas Tech (81-71) to improve to 6-0 on the season.

The Bulldogs climbed to No. 16 in both the Associated Press national poll and the ESPN/USA Today coaches' canvass this week.

Butler broke the tournament record with 49 three-pointers, shooting 53 percent from behind the arc. BU had a tournament single-game record 17 treys against Michigan.

Senior guard Mike Green was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, averaging 20 points, 6.7 assists and four rebounds per game. He had 23 against Virginia Tech and matched that total in the final versus TTU.

Senior forward Pete Campbell was 17-of-31 from three-point range in Alaska, averaging 18.7 points in the tournament. Campbell already has 26 treys this season, shooting 53 percent from behind the arc.

Campbell and senior guard A.J. Graves joined Green on the all-tournament team. Graves' 52 points in Alaska moved him into tenth place on BU's all-time scoring list with 1,455 carer points. His 18.5 points-per-game pace this season is fifth-best on the League charts.

The Bulldogs face another strong test in their only game of the week. BU hosts 2007 national runner-up Ohio State on Saturday evening.

Raiders win long-anticipated season debut
Defending League champion Wright State waited until Monday night to make its first appearance of the season, but didn't show much rust in a 71-48 victory over Coastal Carolina on Monday. WSU forced 24 turnovers by the Chanticleers and led by as many as 29 points in the second half.

Sophomore forward Todd Brown led the way with a game-high 20 points along with four reounds and four assists. He canned four of the Raiders' nine three-pointers.

Sophomore guard Vaughn Duggins added 16 points and six rebounds, while senior forward Scottie Wilson chipped in with 14 points.

Senior forward Jordan Pleiman collected six rebounds, pushing him past the 500 mark in his career. Pleiman starts the week with 503 caroms in a Raider uniform, becoming the 17th player in WSU history to reach the 500 plateau.

Sophomore guard John David Gardner tallied six points and four assists in 25 minutes in his Raider debut. Gardner transferred to WSU after a season at UNC Wilmington.

Wright State has two games this week, hosting Marshall on Wednesday before traveling to Marist on Saturday.

Crusaders keeping balance
Valparaiso won two of three games last week, improving to 4-1 on the year. The Crusaders started the week with an 87-78 loss at Vanderbilt on Tuesday but defeated Maryland-Eastern Shore (77-66) and Austin Peay (61-47) to finish with a 3-1 record in the South Padre Island Invitational.

Senior guard Shawn Huff earned a spot on the all-tournament squad, scoring seven points late in the victory over APSU. He averaged 11.3 points and 7.7 rebounds for the week. As a team, Valparaiso brought new meaning to the term "balance" as freshman forward Bryan Bouchie, junior forward Urule Igbavboa and senior guard Jarryd Loyd also averaged 11.3 ppg. apiece for the week.

Bouchie posted a season-high 23 points in the victory over UMES. He was seven-of-nine from the floor with nine caroms in that contest. He is 11th in the League with a .528 field-goal percentage.

Igbavboa is one spot better (tenth at .529) on that chart and is tied for second in the League at 7.8 rebounds per game.

The Crusaders have won at least four of their first five games for the first time since 1998-99.

Valpo attempts to continue its fast start with two home games this week. The Crusaders host Western Michigan on Wednesday and face in-state rival Ball State on Saturday.

Vikings maintain strong start
Cleveland State stands at 4-2 on the season following a 67-57 victory over John Carroll on Saturday.

The Vikings finished last in the League in rebounding margin (minus-3.5 per game) last year, but is second this year at plus-4.0 caroms per contest. Junior forward J'Nathan Bullock (6.7 per game) and junior center George Tandy (6.4) rank sixth and seventh in the League, respectively, on the individual charts.

Bullock also stands eighth in the League in scoring with his 16.8 points-per-game average. Bullock is fourth in free-throw percentage (.912) after making only 59.7 percent as a freshman. He was a 74.8 percent shooter at the line last year.

Sophomore guard Cedric Jackson has made an immediate impact on the Viking program, ranking third in the League at 19.2 points per game. He is also second in steals (3.00 per outing) and third in assists (4.50 per contest). Jackson has already attempted 42 free throws this season, an average of seven per game.

The Vikings average 11.3 turnovers in their four victories, compared to 20.5 in two losses.

CSU continues a three-game homestand this week, hosting Cal State Northridge on Wednesday and Geneva College on Saturday. The game with Cal State Northridge is a rematch of last year's BracketBusters contest.

Titans shooting for success
Detroit improved to 3-2 on the season with home-court victories over Chicago State (77-66 on Wednesday) and Rochester (67-51 on Saturday). The Titans started the week with a 60-59 loss to Western Michigan on Monday.

UDM shot at least 50 percent from the field in each of the three games last week. Wednesday's victory also included a season-high nine three-pointers.

Detroit posted 16 steals against Rochester, the team's highest total in more than three years. The last time UDM had that many thefts was Feb. 28, 2004, when Detroit posted 16 steals against Youngstown State.

Junior forward Chris Hayes posted his first career double-double against Chicago State, scoring a career-high 16 points on seven-of-11 shots from the field with two treys and collecting 12 rebounds. He also had six assists in that game. Hayes matched that scoring total versus Rochester.

Senior guard Jon Goode scored a season-high 24 points against Western Michigan, and leads the team at 15.6 points per game for the season.

The Titans will have played six of their first seven games in the state of Michigan after two contests this week. UDM travels to Eastern Michigan on Wednesday before a home date against Central Michigan on Saturday.

Phoenix uses big second half in victory
Green Bay climbed to 3-2 overall after posting an 85-77 victory over North Dakota State on Saturday. The Phoenix shot 51 percent from the field, including a torrid 62.5 percent (20-of-32) after intermission to score 51 points in the second half.

Junior forward Mike Schachtner leads the League in scoring at 20.4 points per game after a 24-point total versus NDSU. It was his third 20-point game of the season; he has at least 17 in every game this year. Schachtner is also fourth on the League charts with his .600 field-goal percentage.

Junior forward Terry Evans had a strong all-around effort Saturday with 15 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals. He is tied for second place on the League rebounding charts (7.8 per game) and ranks fifth with four assists per outing.

As a team, Green Bay leads the League in scoring offense (75.4 points per game).

Green Bay hosts Eastern Illinois on Wednesday before opening a four-game road swing Saturday at South Dakota State. The Phoenix has only one home game in the month of December.

Green Bay's next victory will be the school's 400th as a Division I program. The Phoenix is 399-354 since moving into Division I for the 1981-82 season.

Panthers split a pair at home
Milwaukee starts the week at 3-2 following an 80-59 home-court loss to Drake on Saturday. The Panthers began the week with an 89-80 victory over South Dakota State on Tuesday, behind 27 points from senior forward Paige Paulsen and 22 by senior senior forward Torre Johnson.

Paulsen, the former prep Mr. Basketball in South Dakota, tied his career-high against his home-state foe and added seven rebounds and five steals. He is averaging 15 points in five games this year, shooting 52 percent from the field. In his last four games, Paulsen's scoring pace climbs to 17 points per outing.

Johnson leads the League in rebounding (9.4 per game) and ranks fourth in scoring (19.0 per contest). The transfer from Oklahoma State has two double-doubles this year.

Milwaukee trailed 40-30 at intermission Saturday, the third time this year the Panthers have taken a double-digit deficit to the locker room. UWM rallied for victories over Ball State and South Dakota State but could not dig out of the hole Saturday. For the season, UWM is shooting 36.4 percent from the field and averaging 30.6 points in the first half compared to 44 percent and 41.2 points after the break.

Milwaukee hosts Sam Houston State to close a three-game homestand Tuesday and faces cross-town foe Milwaukee on Friday.

Ramblers try to get back to winning ways
Loyola fell to 2-2 on the season with an 84-53 loss at Purdue on Saturday. The 31-point loss was the Ramblers' worst defeat since a 90-57 setback at San Diego on Dec. 20, 2005.

Loyola has lost consecutive games for the first time in ten months. The Ramblers' last two-game skid came in late January in losses
to eventual regular-season League co-titlists Butler (70-66 in overtime on Jan. 25) and Wright State (59-47 on Jan. 27).

Junior guard J.R. Blount scored a team-best 17 points against the Boilermakers, hitting six of 11 shots from the field. He is the only Rambler to score in double figures in all five games this season and ranks fifth in the League with a rate of 18.5 points per contest. Blount is also fourth with his 2.50 steals-per-game norm.

Sophomore forward Ross Forman netted 11 points at Purdue, marking his third double-digit performance in his first four outings as a Rambler. Sophomore forward Andy Polka is fourth in the League with an average of seven rebounds per game.

Loyola committed 19 turnovers at Purdue after averaging only ten in its first three outings.

The Ramblers face a pair of Missouri Valley Conference foes this week, hosting Bradley on Wednesday ahead of a Saturday contest at Northern Iowa. Saturday's game is the only road trip in LU's next five outings.

Three the magic number for Penguins
Youngstown State fell to 2-2 overall with an 87-75 loss at Notre Dame on Saturday. Four Penguins scored in double figures, continuing a streak of sorts as YSU has had at least three players in twin digits in every game this year.

Senior forward John Barber posted his fifth career double-double, scoring a career-high 19 points and matching his collegiate-best with 12 rebounds. He was seven-of-14 from the field with three three-pointers, and also handed out three assists. Barber. who averaged 7.6 points per game last winter, is at 13.3 points and six rebounds per game so far in 2007-08.

Senior guard Byron Davis added 14 points at Notre Dame and leads the team with his 15.8 per-game norm. Sophomore guard Vance Cooksey is the third Penguin averaging double figures at 11.5 per game after his 13-point effort Saturday. Cooksey also handed out eight assists against the Fighting Irish and ranks fourth in the League at 4.75 set-ups per game.

YSU made 11 three-pointers against UND, marking the second time this year the Penguins have hit at least ten treys. Youngstown State has accomplished that feat ten times in Jerry Slocum's three-year tenure on the YSU bench.

The Penguins continue a three-game road swing this week, visiting St. Francis (Pa.) on Wednesday and traveling to Eastern Kentucky on Saturday in a BracketBusters rematch.

Flames return to action on the road again
UIC owns a 2-3 record and took time off for the Thanksgiving holiday after a 67-60 loss to Wichita State on Monday in the finale of the Paradise Jam.

Junior center Scott VanderMeer contributed ten points, a team-high seven rebounds and five blocked shots against the Shockers, marking the fourth time this year he has had five rejections. VanderMeer, who the League single-season record with 111 rejections last year (3.47 per game), already has 21 this season (4.2 per contest). The seven-footer also averages 10.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in 2007-08.

Junior guard Josh Mayo leads the team and ranks seventh in the League in scoring at 17.2 points per game. Mayo's 14 three-pointers also top the Flame charts in that category and pace UIC's long-range attack. As a team, the Flames are shoting better from three-point range (.456) than from the field as a whole (.452).

Senior guard Karl White Jr. and sophomore forward Jeremy Buttell each scored 13 points against WSU, with Buttell also collecting six rebounds. Buttell leads the team at 6.4 caroms per contest for the season.

The Flames return from an eight-day break Wednesday at Central Michigan before a Saturday contest at Illinois State. After Saturday, UIC will have played five consecutive games away from the Pavilion.

Butler Adds to Legacy With Great Alaska Shootout Title

Last season, Butler defeated Notre Dame, Indiana, Tennessee and Gonzaga to capture the NIT Season Tip-Off title and used that early-season run as a springboard toward a record-setting 29-7 campaign. The Bulldogs could be on the path toward repeating history after winning the championship of the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout last weekend.

Tournament Most Outstanding Player Mike Green led the way for the Bulldogs, averaging 20 points and 6.7 assists per game. The senior guard scored 23 points and dished out seven assistst in the title match, and finished the tournament with 20 assists compared to only five turnovers.

Green shot 53 percent from the field including seven-of-eight from three-point range, while senior forward Pete Campbell's 18.7 points-per-game pace featured 17-of-31 shooting behind the arc.

As a team, Butler hit a tournament-record 47 three-pointers for the weekend, shooting 53 percent (47-of-89) from distance. The Bulldogs connected on 17 triples in Wednesday's 79-65, first-round victory over Michigan and added a championship-game standard 16 to defeat Texas Tech 81-71 on Saturday. Butler's weekend also featured an 84-78 overtime triumph over Virginia Tech on Friday.

Senior guard A.J. Graves, the MVP of last year's NIT Season Tip-Off, added 17.3 points and four assists per game in Alaska as Butler's third all-tournament selection.

Now in its 30th season, the Great Alaska Shootout is widely considered as one of the nation's most presitigious early-season tournaments, with this year's field also including Gonzaga (which finished third), Western Kentucky (fourth), Atlantic Coast Conference representative Virginia Tech (fifth), and Big Ten Conference entry Michigan (sixth).

In recent years the Shootout has served as a springboard to success for Final Four teams. The 2003 Final Four featured three of the past four Shootout champions (Kansas, 1999; Syracuse, 2000; Marquette, 2001), plus 2001 Shootout participant Texas.

Indiana, which placed third in the 2001 Shootout, went on to reach the NCAA title game later that season. Duke, the 1998 Shootout runner-up, began its run to the 1999 Final Four in Anchorage as did North Carolina in 1997-98 and Kentucky in 1996-97.

Butler became the sixth school from a non-BCS conference to win the Shootout title, joining Southwestern Louisiana [now Louisiana-Lafayette] (1981), UAB (1984), Massachusetts (1991), New Mexico State (1992) and College of Charleston (2002). North Carolina and North Carolina State have combined for five championships (three by UNC), with Kentucky, Marquette and Purdue each winning the crown twice.

horizonleague.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/112607aac.html

[Tipp City Raider]

Men's Basketball Release #5
Dec. 3, 2007

Horizon League Player of the Week

Matt Howard, Butler
Freshman * Forward * Connersville, Ind. (Connersville)
Matt Howard came off the bench to score a game-high 23 points with seven rebounds to power Butler past Ohio State 65-46 on Saturday. Howard hit nine of 13 shots from the field and all five of his free-throw attempts. He scored 11 of Butler's first 13 points and played strong defense against seven-foot center Kosta Koufos as the Bulldogs outscored Ohio State 45-16 after intermission. Howard also posted two assists and a steal in 29 minutes of action.

Other Top Performances for the Week Ending December 2

Cedric Jackson, Cleveland State
Jr. * G * Columbus, N.J.
Jackson averaged 18.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and four steals as the Vikings split a pair of games last week. He scored a game-high 24 points in Wednesday's loss to Cal State Northridge and added 13 points and five assists in just 17 minutes versus Geneva on Saturday.

Jon Goode, Detroit
Sr. * G * Flint, Mich.
Goode posted a game-high 24 points---17 in the second half---versus Central Michigan on Saturday for his third game of 20 or more this season. He also had five rebounds, one game after scoring a season-low four points at Eastern Michigan on Wednesday.

Rahmon Fletcher, Green Bay
Fr. * G * Kansas City, Mo.
Fletcher scored a career-high 29 points versus South Dakota State on Saturday, hitting 12 of 14 shots from the field with four three-pointers in an 88-81 victory. He also registered seven points to help the Phoenix past Eastern Illinois on Tuesday.

J.R. Blount, Loyola
Jr. * G * Milwaukee, Wis.
Blount hit double figures for the seventh consecutive game (dating to last season) with 18 points on eight-of-15 shooting against Bradley on Wednesday and 13 points plus nine rebounds in Saturday's loss at Northern Iowa. For the week, he averaged 15.5 points and seven rebounds.

Scott VanderMeer, UIC
Jr. * C * Dyer, Ind.
VanderMeer notched his first double-double of the season with 16 points and ten rebounds to lead the Flames to victory at Central Michigan on Wednesday. He was six-of-nine from the floor in that game, and later collected a team-best seven rebounds at Illinois State on Saturday.

Shawn Huff, Valparaiso
Sr. * F * Helsinki, Finland
Huff led all players in both of Valpo's games last week, scoring a game-high 19 points in Wednesday's victory over Western Michigan and 17 versus Ball State on Saturday. He canned 12 of 16 shots from the field in the two games, including eight-of-11 from three-point range.

Todd Brown, Wright State
So. * F * Canton, Ohio
Brown scored a game-high 23 points and pulled down six rebounds to power the Raiders past Marshall on Wednesday and scored a team-best 12 points with six caroms at Marist on Saturday. Brown's total against Marshall included ten-of-13 shooting at the free-throw line.

Byron Davis, Youngstown State
Sr. * G * Detroit, Mich.
Davis scored 29 points and handed out ten assists in two games last week, including a career-high 21 markers on seven-of-12 shooting from the field in Wednesday's victory over Saint Francis (Pa.). He had eight points and six assists at Eastern Kentucky on Saturday.

News From Around the League

Bulldogs rally to remain unbeaten

Butler pushed its season-opening winning streak to seven games, rallying from a 14-point deficit to defeat Ohio State 65-46 on Saturday. BU missed its first 15 three-point attempts but outscored the Buckeyes 45-16 after intermission to move to 7-0 on the season despite playing five of those games away from home.

Freshman forward Matt Howard sparked the Bulldogs with 23 points and seven rebounds off the bench, hitting nine of 13 shots from the field while battling the taller front line of OSU. Senior guard Mike Green scored all 15 of his points in the second half and added a game-high eight assists.

Butler hit nine of 14 shots behind the arc in the second half Saturday, shooting 60 percent from the field during the final 20 minutes to defeat former head coach Thad Matta. Butler also forced 24 turnovers to post its first victory over OSU since 1978.

Senior guard A.J. Graves didn't make a field goal until his first-half buzzer-beater, but finished with 14 points to move into the school's all-time top-ten scoring list with 1,469 career markers. He hit double figures for the 15th consecutive game and 82nd time in 102 career outings.

Butler opens League play with a two-game road swing, visiting Detroit on Thursday before facing Wright State in a rematch of last year's League championship showdown on Saturday.

Crusaders continue strong start

Valparaiso improved to 6-1 with two victories over Mid-American Conference foes last week. The Crusaders raced past Western Michigan 77-65 on Wednesday and defeated Ball State 71-58 on Saturday to get to 6-1 for the third time in veteran coach Homer Drew's 19-year tenure.

All six victories have come by double-digit margins. Valpo has won ten games in a row at home and is 152-27 at the ARC in the last 15 seasons.

Senior guard Shawn Huff led the way with 36 points in the two games, hitting 12 of 16 shots from the field and eight-of-11 from behind the arc. He leads the team at 12.4 points per game for the season.

Junior forward Urule Igbavboa averaged 14 points and eight rebounds in the two games and stands second in the League at 7.9 caroms per contet for the year. He also owns an 11.0 points-per-game scoring pace, with senior guard Jarryd Loyd at 10.1 points per outing.

The Crusaders held Ball State scoreless from three-point range, as the Cardinals missed all 16 shots behind the arc. Valpo's opponents are a combined 22.5 percent from long range this year.

Valparaiso officially begins Horizon League play Thursday at defending loop champion Wright State before traveling to Detroit on Saturday.

Phoenix shoots to three-game streak

Green Bay stands at 5-2 following victories over Eastern Illinois (63-47 on Tuesday) and South Dakota State (88-81 on Saturday) last week. The Phoenix shot 59 percent (31-of-53) from the floor at SDSU to post its third victory in a row.

Freshman guard Rahmon Fletcher scored a collegiate-best 29 points against the Jackrabbits, hitting 12 of 14 shots from the floor with four three-ponters. Junior forward Mike Schachtner added 19 points in that victory.

Schachtner leads the League in scoring at 19.7 points per contest this season, shooting 57.8 percent from the field to rank sixth in the circuit in that category. He has hit the 20-point mark three times this year and had led the Phoenix in scoring in each of the first six games in 2007-08.

Junior forward Terry Evans tops the Phoenix charts with 25 assists (3.57 per game, the eighth-best rate in the League) compared to only 11 turnovers this season. Evans also ranks third in the League with a rate of 7.6 rebounds per contest.

Green Bay travels south of the state line for its first two League contests, visiting Loyola on Thursday and facing UIC at the Pavilion on Saturday. A victory at LU would give Green Bay its longest winning streak since a six-game run early in the 2004-05 campaign.

Raiders split, put home streak on the line

Defending League champion Wright State starts the week at 2-1 after a 79-64 loss at Marist on Saturday. The Raiders previously knocked Marshall from the ranks of the unbeaten with a 77-70 victory on Wednesday.

Sophomore guard Todd Brown has led Wright State in scoring in all three of its games this year, including a 23-point effort Saturday. He ranks third in the League at 18.3 points per game.

Sophomore guard Vaughn Duggins chipped in with 21 points Wednesday and boasts a season rate of 14.7 points per outing. Senior forward Scottie Wilson adds 11.3 points per contest as WSU's third double-figure scorer.

Senior forward Jordan Pleiman ranks sixth on the loop charts at 6.3 rebounds per game and leads the circuit as a 75 percent shooter from the field.

As a team, the Raiders lead the League in free-throw accuracy (.805).

Wright State puts a 14-game homecourt winning streak on the line in two spotlight games this week. WSU hosts Valparaiso in the Crusaders' first Horizon League contest on Thursday and challenges early-season front-runner Butler on Saturday. BU and the Raiders shared the regular-season League title last year, with Wright State defeating Butler 60-55 in the League Championship final to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1993.

Vikings hit century mark

Cleveland State owns a 5-3 record following a 107-51 rout of Geneva on Saturday. The 107 points were CSU's first triple-digit total since a 109-105 victory over Milwaukee on Jan. 29, 2000---a span of 222 games. Five players scored in double figures, led by sophomore guard Joe Davis with 20 points. CSU shot a season-high 56 percent from the floor.

The Vikings began the week with a 78-68 loss to Cal State Northridge.

Junior guard Cedric Jackson added 13 points in 17 minutes Saturday, after a game-high 24 against CSU Northridge. Jackson already has hit the 20-point mark four times this season and ranks second in the League at 19 points per outing. He also tops the charts with 3.25 steals per game while shooting 51 percent from the field.

Junior forward J'Nathan Bullock stands fourth on the League rebounding charts at 6.9 per game and tenth with his scoring pace of 15.3 points per contest. Davis is just short of double figures, averaging 9.9 points per game.

As a team, Cleveland State leads the League in rebounding margin, out-working its opponents by an average of 5.9 caroms per contest. CSU has not finished a season with a positive margin in six years.

CSU visits Chicago State on Tuesday before opening League play at home against Youngstown State on Saturday.


Titans applying fundamentals

Detroit split two games last week, moving to 4-3 on the season. UDM rallied from a 12-point, second-half deficit to defeat Eastern Michigan 72-68 on Monday but fell 70-66 at home to Central Michigan on Saturday.

Senior guard Jon Goode scored 17 of his game-high 24 points in the second half against CMU. It marked Goode's third 20-point effort of the year and sixth of his career, lifting his season scoring pace to 15.1 points per game.

Junior forward Michael Harrington had a carer-high 12 points against EMU. Harrington, who had scored a total of nine points in the Titans' first five games, was three-of-six from the field and six-of-six at the line while also grabbing five rebounds.

Senior guard Zach Everingham has dished out 27 assists (3.86 per game, fourth-best in the League) while committing only four turnovers. Junior forward Chris Hayes is eighth in the League in rebounding at six caroms per contest while shooting 62.7 percent from the field.

As a team, Detroit leads the League in three-point accuracy, hitting 45.6 percent of its shots behind the arc.

UDM opens the 18-game League schedule Thursday at home against Butler and hosts Valparaiso on Saturday. The Titans will have played eight of their first nine games in the state of Michigan after the two contests this week.

Penguins remain at break-even

Youngstown State remains at .500 (3-3) overall after splitting two games last week. The Penguins defeated Saint Francis (Pa.) 70-65 on Wednesday before dropping a 61-50 decision at Eastern Kentucky on Saturday.

Senior guard Byron Davis scored a career-high 21 points in Wednesday's victory, hitting seven of 12 shots from the field. He played the role of set-up artist Saturday with a season-best six assists to go with eight points at EKU. For the season, Davis is ninth on the League scoring charts at 15.3 points per game.

Junior forward Jack Liles logged a double-double Saturday, matching his career high with 18 points (equalling his total against EKU last season) and grabbing a game-high ten rebounds. All 18 of his points came in the second half. Liles was nine-of-13 from the field against the Colonels and ranks seventh in the League with his .547 field-goal percentage for the year.
He averages 11.5 points per game.

Senior forward John Barber scored 17 points and collected five boards versus Saint Francis. For the season, he is averaging 13.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Vance Cooksey is second in the League at 4.67 assists per contest.

YSU hosts local rival Kent State on Wednesday and makes its 2007-08 Horizon League debut Saturday at Cleveland State.

Panthers' slide hits three

Milwaukee dropped to 3-4 on the year after two losses last week. The Panthers suffered an 81-77 homecourt loss to Sam Houston State on Tuesday before falling 100-65 to crosstown rival Marquette on Saturday.

The four teams owning victories over the Panthers (Northern Iowa, Drake, Sam Houston State and Marquette) are a combined 22-3 this year.

Senior forward Paige Paulsen registered a double-double with 25 points and ten rebounds against SHSU, connecting on seven of 13 shots from the field with five-of-eight accuracy from behind the arc. Paulsen is averaging 14.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game for the season.

Senior forward Torre Johnson added 17 points and 11 rebounds Tuesday, adding to his early-season laurels. Johnson leads the League with a rate of 8.6 caroms per contest and ranks sixth in scoring at 17 points per outing.

Junior guard Ricky Franklin scored a season-high 14 points against Marquette, with junior guard Deion James adding ten for his best output as a Panther. James' performance marked the foruth time this year a Panther reserve has posted a double-digit point total.

Milwaukee visits both Chicago schools to open Horizon League play this week. UWM is at UIC on Thursday before facing Loyola on Saturday.

Flames finally back at home

UIC starts the week at 3-4 after splitting two games on the road last week. The Flames posted a 65-52 victory at Central Michigan on Wednesday but were defeated 73-47 at Illinois State on Saturday.

The Flames have played five consecutive games away from home and have not competed at the UIC Pavilion since Nov. 13. That changes this week as UIC opens Horizon League play
at home against Milwaukee on Thursday and hosts Green Bay on Saturday afternoon. The Flames are 2-0 at home this year, winning by an average of 17.5 points.

Junior guard Josh Mayo scored 13 points at CMU before a ten-point showing against Illinois State. He has scored in double figures in six of the team's seven games this year, ranknig seventh in the League with a rate of 15.6 points per game. He is shooting 56.7 percent (17-of-30) from three-point range.

Junior center Scott VanderMeer collected 17 rebounds in the two games, including a 16-point, ten-rebound effort at Central Michigan. His 6.6 rebounds-per-game average is fifth-best in the League, while his 26 blocked shots (3.71 per game) are more than seven other teams in the League.

VanderMeer also averages 10.6 points per game, more than double his (5.1) rate from last season.

Ramblers try to stop four-game skid

Loyola opens the week on a four-game losing streak, slipping to 2-4 after a 64-47 loss to Bradley on Wednesday and a 61-50 setback at Northern Iowa on Saturday. The Ramblers have averaged just 52.8 points per game during the losing streak after scoring 73 and 72 in their two victories.

The streak is Loyola's longest since a similar four-game run from Jan. 2-11, 2006.

Junior guard J.R. Blount scored 18 points against Bradley and finished with 13 points and nine rebounds versus UNI, giving him a streak of seven consecutive games in double figures. Blount ranks fifth in the League in scoring (17.5 points per game) and second in steals (2.00 per contest). He has started 42 consecutive games for the Ramblers, dating back to the final month of the 2005-06 campaign.

Junior forward Leon Young posted 16 points and eight caroms Saturday, following a ten-point, eight-rebound effort against Bradley. Young stands eighth on the League charts at six rebounds per contest while also averaging 10.3 points per appearance. Sophomore forward Andy Polka adds 5.8 rebounds per game.

Loyola opens the League schedule at home versus two teams it swept in the regular season against last year. LU hosts Green Bay on Thursday prior to a Saturday showdown against Milwaukee.

It's early, but League schedule begins now

The season is less than a month old, but the ten Horizon League teams can get an early jump on the competition as League play begins this week.

Nine loop contests are on the docket, beginning Thursday when Butler visits Detroit and Green Bay is at Loyola while Milwaukee is at UIC in a re-match of their first-round meeting from last year's Horizon League Championship. The fourth match-up that day marks Valparaiso's first official foray into League competition as the Crusaders visit defending League champion Wright State.

Saturday features a full, five-game slate, including a re-match of last year's Horizon League Championship game as Butler travels to Wright State. The Bulldogs and Raiders shared the regular-season title in 2006-07 before WSU posted a 60-55 triumph in the League tournament to earn its first-ever League title and the school's first NCAA Tournament berth since 1993.

The rest of Saturday's schedule includes Green Bay at UIC and Valparaiso at Detroit in afternoon action, with Cleveland State hosting Youngstown State and Loyola entertaining Milwaukee that evening.

The teams return to non-conference action until Jan. 3, with only one game (Presbyterian at Wright State on Feb. 4) scheduled outside the circuit from that point until the O'Reilly ESPNU BracketBusters event on Feb. 23.

Cleveland State and Youngstown State have only the one League contest this week, but both teams have tune-ups prior to their meeting on Saturday. CSU visits Chicago State on Tuesday, with Youngstown State hosting Kent State the following night.

Next week's schedule is relatively light, with most schools taking time off the court to concentrate on final exams. Only nine games are slated for the week of Dec. 9-16, although that list includes Butler's match-up with Florida State in the Wooden Tradition at Conseco Fieldhouse on Dec. 15. In addition, Milwaukee hosts Wisconsin on Wednesday, Dec. 12, three days before Green Bay travels to Madison to face the Badgers.

horizonleague.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/120307aae.html

[Tipp City Raider]

Men's Basketball Release #6
Dec. 10, 2007

Horizon League Player of the Week

Josh Mayo, UIC
Junior * Guard * Merrillville, Ind. (Merrillville)
Josh Mayo won the award for the second time this season (and third in his career), shooting 68 percent from the field as the Flames opened League play with a pair of victories. The junior guard scored 29 points in 27 minutes on 10-of-12 shooting from the field with five three-pointers versus Milwaukee on Thursday, and came back with a 32-point performance to lead UIC past Green Bay on Saturday. Mayo hit nine of 16 shots from the floor with six three-pointers as the Flames defeated the Phoenix, 76-67, to claim a share of the lead in the League standings.

Other Top Performances for the Week Ending December 9

Matt Howard, Butler
Fr. * F * Connersville, Ind.
Howard posted his second double-double with 20 points and a season-high 12 rebounds in the Bulldogs' 53-46 victory. He grabbed a team-high eight rebounds and blocked three shots Saturday at Wright State.

George Tandy, Cleveland State
Jr. * F * Indianapolis, Ind.
Tandy averaged 10.5 points, five rebounds and 2.5 blocks in two Viking victories. He scored a CSU career-high 14 points with six rebounds and five blocked shots Saturday versus Youngstown State.

Jon Goode, Detroit
Sr. * G * Flint, Mich.
Goode scored 21 points in each of the Titans' games last week, giving him five games of 20 or more for the season. He added seven assists and four rebounds Thursday against Butler, and canned four treys Saturday versus Valparaiso.

Mike Schachtner, Green Bay
Jr. * F * Somerset, Wis.
Schachtner matched his season high with 24 points and pulled down a career-best nine rebounds Saturday at UIC following a 20-point performance to lead the Phoenix past Loyola on Thursday.

Leon Young, Loyola
Jr. * F * Long Beach, Calif.
Young averaged 14.5 points and 10.5 rebounds for the Ramblers. He notched the eighth double-double of his career with 21 points and a career-best 14 rebounds in Loyola's 73-68, overtime victory over Milwaukee on Saturday.

Torre Johnson, Milwaukee
Sr. * F * Milwaukee, Wis.
Johnson scored a collegiate-best 30 points in the Panthers' loss at UIC on Thursday, and came back with a double-double of 19 points and 12 boards in Saturday's loss at Loyola. He shot 53 percent from the field in the two contests.

Shawn Huff, Valparaiso
Sr. * F * Helsinki, Finland
Huff posted 16 points on six-of-11 shooting Thursday as the Crusaders snapped Wright State's 14-game homecourt winning streak. Huff also scored 15 points in Saturday's victory at Detroit, putting Valpo at 2-0 in League play.

Vaughn Duggins, Wright State
So. * G * Pendleton, Ind.
Duggins scored a team-high 18 points on seven-of-14 shooting in Thursday's loss to Valparaiso. The sophomore tallied eight points and two steals Saturday to help pace the Raiders past 13th-ranked Butler 43-42 on Saturday.

John Barber, Youngstown State
Sr. * F * Detroit, Mich.
Barber scored 32 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in two games, including an 18-point effort Saturday against Cleveland State. The senior had 14 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in Wednesday's loss to Kent State.

News From Around the League

Crusaders make early statement in League
Valparaiso made an auspicious debut in Horizon League play, opening this week tied for first place at 2-0 in loop action following victories at Wright State (71-66 on Thursday) and at Detroit (81-68 on Saturday). Valpo is 8-1 overall for and carries a six-game winning streak, the school's longest since Dec. 29, 2005-Jan. 14, 2006.

Valparaiso shot 66.7 percent (30-of-45) from the floor at Detroit, the best single-game showing by a League team this year. Valpo was 20-of-25 from inside the arc.

Five players averaged in double digits for the week, with six Crusaders at 8.0 or better per game for the season. That balance is a key element in Valpo's attack as the Crusaders lead the League in scoring offense at 74.3 points per game. Six different players have led the team in scoring at least once this year.

Senior guard Shawn Huff tops the team scoring charts at 13.1 points per game, with junior forward Urule Igbavboa averaging 11.6 points per contest while also ranking second in the League in rebounding (7.2 per game) and field-goal percentage (.594).

Valpo puts a ten-game homecourt winning streak on the line against Evansville on Tuesday, attempting to move to 9-1 for the first time in coach Homer Drew's 19-year tenure. The Crusaders remain at home Saturday to face Chicago State.

Flames scorching the nets at home
UIC is the other team at 2-0 in the League, improving to 5-4 overall following a 91-73 victory over Milwaukee on Thursday and a 76-67 triumph against Green Bay on Saturday. The Flames are now 4-0 in the Pavilion this season.

UIC shot 55 percent (59-of-107) from the field and 55 percent (22-of-40) from three-point range in the two games. In four home contests this year, the Flames are at 54 percent from the floor---compared to 40 percent on the road.

Junior guard Josh Mayo averaged 30.5 points in the two victories. He is 17-for-25 from three-point range at home this year, averaging 28 points per outing in his home arena. Overall, his 18.9 per-game pace is second-best in the League. Mayo is also sixth with a .553 field-goal mark.

Mayo hit six treys in the first half against the Phoenix on the way to his second 30-point effort of the year. As a team, UIC leads the League with a 45.9 percent touch behind the arc.

Junior center Scott VanderMeer stands eighth in the circuit at 6.1 rebounds per game, while his 33 blocked shots (3.67 per contest) are more than seven other teams in the League.

Freshman guard Robert Kreps is averaging 12.7 points in his last three contests, scoring in double figures in each of those games on 57 percent shooting from the field.

UIC meets intra-city rival DePaul on Saturday in the team's only game of the week.

Vikings continue strong start
Cleveland State brings a three-game winning streak into the week, including a 77-73 victory at Chicago State on Tuesday and a 77-54 triumph over Youngstown State in the Vikings' League debut on Saturday. CSU's 7-3 overall mark is the school's best ten-game start since 1991-92.

Junior guard Cedric Jackson led the way with 21 points versus the Penguins, adding to his early-season stat line. Jackson ranks fourth in the League in scoring (17.9 points per game) and tops the circuit charts in both assists (5.40 per outing) and steals (3.10 per contest).

Junior forward J'Nathan Bullock adds 14.5 points per game (ninth-best in the League) while leading the League in free-throw percentage (.913) and ranking sixth in rebounding (6.4 per night).

CSU shot 64.6 percent (31-of-48) Saturday, and is at 54.2 percent in its last three games
---compared to a .424 clip in the first seven contests of the year.

As a team, Cleveland State leads the League in rebounding margin, out-working its opponents by an average of 5.8 caroms per contest.

The Vikings take the week off for final exams, returning to the court next Tuesday (Dec. 18) against Ohio State at Quicken Loans Arena. That game could mark the debut of freshman guard Eric Schiele, who averaged 39.6 points per game as a prep senior in 2005-06.

Shorthanded Bulldogs suffer first defeat
Butler dropped to 8-1 overall (1-1 in the League) with a 43-42 loss at Wright State on Saturday. The Bulldogs, now 18th in the latest AP poll and 19th according to the ESPN/USA Today canvass, opened League play with a 53-46 victory at Detroit on Thursday, and have not allowed more than 50 points in six games played within the contiguous 48 states.

The Bulldogs played both games without senior forward Pete Campbell, who averages 14.1 points per game as a 50 percent shooter from three-point range. Campbell sprained his right knee against Ohio State and is sidelined indefinitely. Butler also is still without transfer forward Avery Jukes, who becomes eligible on Dec. 19.

Freshman forward Matt Howard recorded a 20-point, 12-rebound double-double in his first collegiate start at UDM. The 12 boards were a season-high, and Howard ranks third in the League with a .597 field-goal percentage.

Senior guard Julian Betko scored a game-high 14 points Saturday, hitting four of six three-point attempts as the only Bulldog in double figures.

Senior guard A.J. Graves was held to 14 points on four-of-19 shooting in two games last week but is seventh in the League at 15.4 points per contest for the season.

Butler challenges Florida State at Conseco Fieldhouse on Saturday. That contest is part of the Wooden Tradition doubleheader.

Phoenix continuing road swing
Green Bay starts the week at 6-3 overall (1-1 in the League) after splitting two games on the road last week. The Phoenix defeated Loyola 69-63 on Thursday before falling 76-67 at UIC on Saturday to end a four-game winning streak.

Junior forward Mike Schachtner crossed the 20-point mark in each game, giving him five such outings this season. He matched his season best with 24 at UIC. Schachtner leads the League in scoring (20.2 points per game) and ranks fifth with a .569 field-goal percentage. The junior forward needs six points to become the 20th player in school history to reach the 1,000-point plateau.

Junior forward Terry Evans ranks fourth in the League at seven rebounds per game, while his 3.44 assists-per-contest norm is seventh on that loop chart. Freshman guard Rahmon Fletcher adds 11.6 points per game in his debut campaign for the Phoenix.

Green Bay shot a season-low 36.5 percent from the floor at UIC (including two-of-14 behind the arc) after hitting 49 percent or better in each game during the winning streak. The Phoenix finished at an even 50 percent at Loyola.

Green Bay closes a four-game road swing Saturday at Wisconsin, attempting to post a 7-3 start for the second time since 1996-97. The Phoenix also opened the 2004-05 campaign with seven victories in its first ten outings.


Raiders topple Butler again
Wright State opened defense of its 2006-07 Horizon League championship last week, splitting two home games as League play began. The Raiders had a 14-game homecourt winning streak snapped with Thursday's 71-66 loss to Valparaiso, but rallied to defeat 13th-ranked Butler 43-42 on Saturday to move to 3-2 overall (1-1 in the League).

Saturday's game featured a combined total of 11 free throws, while WSU took only 12 field-goal attempts in the second half and 38 in the game. Each team scored only 15 points in the second half as the Raiders held Butler to 32 percent shooting (16-of-50) for the game.

The 42 points allowed was Wright State's best defensive showing since Butler managed 39 on Jan. 3, 2004. WSU has won nine of the last 11 meetings against Butler.

Sophomore guards Todd Brown and Vaughn Duggins lead the team in scoring at 15.4 and 14.0 points per game, respectively, with Brown's total ranking eighth on the League charts. Senior forward Scottie Wilson adds 11.2 per outing, after posting ten points and five rebounds versus Butler. He leads the circuit with a .704 field-goal percentage.

Wright State continues a five-game homestand this week, facing Bradley on Tuesday before Miami (Ohio) comes to the Nutter Center on Saturday.


Ramblers return to the win column
Loyola stands at 3-5 overall and 1-1 in League play. The Ramblers dropped a 69-63 decision to Green Bay on Thursday but snapped a five-game losing streak---the program's longest since an eight-game skid in 2004---with a 73-68, overtime triumph over Milwaukee on Saturday.

Junior forward Leon Young posted his first double-double in nearly a year with 21 points and a career-high 14 rebounds Saturday. He ranks third in the League at 7.1 caroms per contest for the year while also averaging 11.4 points per game.

Junior guard J.R. Blount finished with 20 points against the Phoenix, hitting the 20-point mark for the third time this season. He is fifth on the League scoring charts at 17.8 points per game. He has scored in double figures in nine consecutive games, including all eight this year.

Senior forward Tracy Robinson's basket at the end of regulation forced overtime Saturday as part of his career-best 18-point effort.

Freshman guard Geoff McCammon made his first start against the Panthers, while sophomore guard Aric Van Weelden notched a career-best five points versus UWM.

Loyola hosts Northern Illinois on Saturday in the Ramblers' only action of the week. Before the game, Loyola will honor 12 players from the 1960s, including the starting five from LU's 1963 NCAA Championship squad.


Penguins drop a pair
Youngstown State slipped to 3-5 overall with a 59-52 loss to Kent State on Wednesday and a 77-54 setback at Cleveland State in the Penguins' League-opener on Saturday.

YSU is now winless in seven Horizon League openers since joining the circuit in 2001.

Youngstown State shot 32 percent from the field against Kent State and 36 percent versus the Vikings. Youngstown State is shooting only 34.8 percent during its three-game skid---including a 21.1-percent rate from three-point range---while averaging 52 points per game. Opponents are shooting 52.7 percent from the field during that span.

Senior forward John Barber leads the Penguins in scoring (14.1 points per game) and rebounding (six per outing). Barber scored 18 points against Cleveland State and has finished in double figures seven times in eight appearances this year.

Senior guard Byron Davis adds 14 points per contest, with junior forward Jack Liles' 11.4 points-per-game norm featuring a 54.3 percent touch from the field (eighth-best in the League). Sophomore guard Vance Cooksey ranks third at 4.38 assists per game.

Youngstown State takes the week off to focus on final exams. The Penguins return to the court next Monday (Dec. 17) at home against Robert Morris (Pa.).

Titans stumble at home
Detroit dropped to 4-5 overall with two home-court losses to open the League schedule last week. The Titans fell 53-46 to Butler on Thursday before an 81-68 defeat at the hands of Valparaiso on Saturday.

Senior guard Jon Goode scored 21 points in each contest, adding ten assists and five steals in the two games. He has hit the 20-point mark five times already this season, matching Green Bay's Mike Schachtner and Cleveland State's Cedric Jackson for League honors in that department. Goode's season-best last winter was 18 points. His current 16.4 points-per-game average ranks sixth on the League scoring charts.

Goode and senior guard Zach Everingham each played their 100th career game last week. Everingham hit the century mark against Butler, with Goode making his 100th appearance Saturday. Everingham ranks fifth in the League at 3.63 assists per game with a 4.83 assists-to-turnover ratio that is fifth-best in the nation.

Junior forward Chris Hayes stands second on the League field-goal percentage charts (.597) and tops the Titans at 5.6 rebounds per game.

UDM played nine games in 28 days to open the year, but has nine days off to ponder its current three-game losing streak. The Titans return to the hardwood at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Dec. 17, two days before visiting #14/12 Texas A&M.


Panthers' skid continues
Milwaukee stands at 3-6 overall and 0-2 in the League following a 91-73 loss at UIC on Thursday and a 73-68, overtime defeat at Loyola on Saturday.

The Panthers have lost five consecutive games, with opponents shooting 51.3 percent from the field during that span while UWM is at just 40.1 percent. Milwaukee is also allowing 85 points per game during is skid, and has yielded at least 73 in each of its last eight outings.

Senior forward Torre Johnson scored a collegiate-best 30 points against UIC and notched his League-best third double-double with 19 points and 12 boards at Loyola. Johnson leads the circuit in rebounding (8.7 per game) and is third in scoring at 18.7 points per contest.

Senior forward Paige Paulsen posted 17 points at Loyola, lifting his season pace to 14 points per game. Senior forward Marcus Skinner posted his first career double-double with ten points and ten rebounds against the Ramblers.

In freshmen Tim Flowers and Deonte Roberts, UWM is starting two true freshmen for the first time since 1999-2000. Roberts has made the most of his playing time, averaging nine points in the last three contests with ten points and six assists against the Ramblers.

Milwaukee hosts Wisconsin on Wednesday in the Panthers' only game of the week.

Final exams mean light schedule this week
Like most conferences around the country, the Horizon League has a light schedule this week as teams focus on final exams.

A total of nine games are on the docket, including Butler's match-up with Florida State in the Wooden Tradition at Conseco Fieldhouse on Saturday. A Bulldog victory would leave the Horizon League 3-0 head-to-head against the Atlantic Coast Conference this season, with BU already owning a victory over Virginia Tech and Cleveland State defeating Florida State in tournament play last month.

In addition, Milwaukee hosts Wisconsin on Wednesday, three days before Green Bay travels to Madison to face the Badgers on Saturday. The Horizon League is 2-2 against Big Ten Conference foes this season, with Butler sporting victories over Michigan and Ohio State.

The rest of the schedule includes two contests against the Missouri Valley Conference on Tuesday as Wright State hosts Bradley and Valparaiso takes on Evansville at the ARC. The MVC has won the last six head-to-head meetings between the circuits to take a 6-3 lead for the season.

Two Mid-American Conference foes come to Horizon League venues Saturday, with Miami (Ohio) at Wright State and Northern Illinois challenging Loyola. The Horizon League boasts a 7-4 advantage in the first 11 games between the conferences this year.

Also on Saturday, Valparaiso hosts Chicago State, while UIC takes on intra-city rival DePaul at Allstate Arena.

All told, the Horizon League owns a 41-26 (.612) ledger against non-League competition so far this season.

horizonleague.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/121007aab.html

[Tipp City Raider]

Men's Basketball Release #7
Dec. 17, 2007

Horizon League Player of the Week

Samuel Haanpää, Valparaiso
Sophomore * Guard * Kerava, Finland (Cornerstone [Texas] Christian)
Samuel Haanpää averaged 26 points in leading the Crusaders to a pair of victories, extending Valpo's winning streak to eight games. He canned a school-record ten three-pointers in 12 attempts Saturday, finishing with 32 points to power Valpo past Chicago State, 90-61. The ten treys eclipsed the previous Valpo standard of nine, held by current associate coach Bryce Drew. Haanpää opened the week with 20 points on six-of-eight shooting with three treys in Tuesday's victory over Evansville. For the week, Haanpää shot 81 percent (17-of-21) from the floor and 81.3 percent (13-of-16) behind the arc.

Other Top Performances for the Week Ending December 16

A.J. Graves, Butler
Sr. * G * Switz City, Ind.
Graves set a Wooden Tradition record with seven three-pointers, scoring an event-best 25 points to lead the Bulldogs past Florida State, 79-68 on Saturday. He was seven-of-16 behind the arc and added three rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Cordero Barkley, Green Bay
Jr. * G-F * Racine, Wis.
Barkley led the Phoenix with 11 points and eight rebounds in Saturday's 70-52 loss at Wisconsin. His eight rebounds were double his previous career best, while the 11 points were the second-highest total of Barkley's three-year career.

Leon Young, Loyola
Jr. * F * Long Beach, Calif.
Young scored a game-high 16 points and grabbed six rebounds in the Ramblers' 76-72, overtime victory over Northern Illinois on Saturday. He was five-of-eight from the field and six-of-seven at the line in his sixth consecutive double-figure effort.

Robert Kreps, UIC
Fr. * G * Forsyth, Ill.
Kreps came off the bench to score a career-high 19 points in 25 minutes during Saturday's 85-80 victory over DePaul. The freshman hit seven of nine field-goal attempts, including four from behind the arc, as UIC beat its intra-city rival for the first time in school history.

Vaughn Duggins, Wright State
So. * G * Pendleton, Ind.
Duggins averaged 16 points in two games last week. He had a season-high 24 points Tuesday against Bradley, and helped lead Wright State back from a 16-point deficit in Saturday's victory over Miami (Ohio) with eight points, six rebounds and six assists.

News From Around the League

Crusaders keeps on winning
Valparaiso carries an eight-game winning streak into the week, defeating Evansville 75-67 on Tuesday and shooting past Chicago State 90-61 on Saturday to improve to 10-1 overall, the program's best start since joining Division I.
The Crusaders have also won 12 games in a row at the Athletics-Recreation Center and own a 208-92 (.693) record all-time in the facility, including a 154-27 (.851) standard during the last 15 years.

Sophomore guard Samuel Haanpaa netted ten three-pointers during a career-best 32-point effort against CSU. In the process, he became the first Crusader to reach the 30-point mark since Dan Oppland scored 35 at Western Illinois on Jan. 14, 2006. For the season, Haanpaa is averaging 11.3 points per game and shooting 47 percent behind the arc.

Senior guard Shawn Huff and junior forward Urule Igbavboa share the team scoring lead at 12.1 points per game, with Igbavboa also ranking third in the League at 6.8 rebounds per contest. Igbavboa has scored in double figures in eight consecutive games and has made 16 consecutive free-throw attempts after starting the year 24-of-46 at the stripe.

Valpo, which hit a season-high 16 three-pointers Saturday, puts its winning streak on the line Saturday at Wisconsin in the Crusaders' only game of the week.

Flames scorching the nets at home
UIC climbed to 6-4 on the season Saturday, defeating DePaul 85-80 at Allstate Arena. The victory was the Flames' first-ever over their cross-town rival. The Flames are 6-0 when leading at halftime this season.

Freshman guard Robert Kreps scored a team-high 19 points with four three-pointers among his seven-of-nine shooting performance. Kreps is averaging 14.3 points per game in his last four outings, shooting 63 percent (19-of-30) from the floor during that span. He ranks fourth in the League with a .564 field-goal mark for the season.

Junior guard Josh Mayo added 18 points, continuing his strong play in the early portion of the season. Mayo stands second on the League scoring charts at 18.8 points per game, with a .528 field-goal percentage to rank eighth in that department. He is shooting 59 percent (32-of-54) from three-point range, leading UIC to a League-best .451 clip as a team.

Junior center Scott VanderMeer anchors the middle for the Flames, averaging 6.2 rebounds per contest to rank eighth in the circuit. His rate of 3.50 blocked shots per game leads the League and is better than seven of the loop's nine other teams.

The Flames are home during the holiday week, hosting Toledo on Wednesday and Howard on Saturday.

Vikings attempt to sustain strong start
(Note: CSU was idle last week while concentrating on final exams.)
Cleveland State brings a three-game winning streak into the week, including a 77-54 triumph over Youngstown State in the Vikings' League debut on Dec. 8. CSU's 7-3 overall mark is the school's best ten-game start since 1991-92. Junior guard Cedric Jackson led the way with 21 points versus the Penguins, adding to his early-season stat line. Jackson ranks third in the League in scoring (17.9 points per game) and tops the circuit charts in both assists (5.40 per outing) and steals (3.10 per contest).

Junior forward J'Nathan Bullock adds 14.5 points per game (ninth-best in the League) while leading the League in free-throw percentage (.913) and ranking fifth in rebounding (6.4 per night).

Cleveland State shot 64.6 percent (31-of-48) versus Youngstown State, and is at 54.2 percent in its last three games---compared to a .424 clip in the first seven contests of the year. As a team, the Vikings lead the League in rebounding margin, out-working their foes by an average of 5.8 caroms per contest.

The Vikings return to the court Tuesday against Ohio State at Quicken Loans Arena. That game could mark the debut of freshman guard Eric Schiele, who averaged 39.6 points per game as a prep senior in 2005-06.

Bulldogs find shot, winning ways
Butler climbed to 9-1 on the season with a 79-68 victory over Florida State in the Wooden Tradition on Saturday. Butler moved up to 16th in this week's Associated Press national poll and 18th in the ESPN/USA Today canvass after winning in the event for the second year in a row. BU has gone 62 consecutive games without suffering back-to-back losses.

Senior guards A.J. Graves and Mike Green led the way, combining for 45 points. Green had 20 points, including a 10-of-11 showing at the line. He scored 11 of Butler's final 13 points. Green ranks second in the League at 4.80 assists per game while also scoring 14.3 points per contest.

Graves became the 39th player in League history to reach the 1,500-point mark. His 25 points against FSU give Graves 1,508 in his career. Graves is seventh in the League at 16.4 points per game and has 248 three-pointers in his career after hitting seven Saturday.

Freshman forward Matt Howard added 11 points and four rebounds. He is second in the League with a .606 field-goal percentage.

Butler has two games this week, hosting Bradley on Wednesday before a Saturday contest at Florida Gulf Coast. Sophomore forward Avery Jukes is expected to make his Butler debut this week after sitting out the first semester as a transfer from the University of Alabama.

Phoenix makes home appearance
Green Bay slipped to 6-4 on the season with a 70-52 loss at Wisconsin on Saturday, closing a four-game road swing with a 2-2 ledger.

Junior guard/forward Cordero Barkley led the Phoenix with 11 points and rebounds against the Badgers. It was the first time he had ever registered team honors in either category during his 72-game career. The eight rebounds were also double his previous career high.

Junior forward Mike Schachtner finished with eight points in Madison, becoming the 20th player in school history to reach the 1,000-point plateau. Schachtner now has 1,002 markers in a Phoenix uniform and leads the League in scoring at 19 points per game.

Junior forward Terry Evans ranks fourth on the loop rebounding charts at 6.7 per contest. He is also sixth in assists (3.40 per game) and fourth in steals (1.70 per outing).

The Phoenix shot a season-low 33 percent from the field against UW, but hit 14 of 17 free-throw attempts (82.4 percent). Green Bay leads the League with a .774 mark at the line for the season.

The Phoenix hosts Northern Illinois on Saturday, the team's only stop at the Resch Center during the month of December. Green Bay has won 11 games in a row and 20 of the last 21 against its former Midwestern Collegiate Conference rivals.

Raiders keep going down to the wire
Wright State split a pair of games last week, moving to 4-3 on the year following a 72-65, overtime loss to Bradley on Tuesday and a 58-57 triumph over Miami (Ohio) on Saturday.

Both of last week's contests saw teams overcome last-minute deficits. Wright State held a 57-53 lead with 45 seconds left in regulation against Bradley but let the lead slip away despite 24 points from sophomore guard Vaughn Duggins. Four nights later, the Raiders returned the favor when Todd Brown's buzzer-beating three-pointer gave WSU its only lead of the night against Miami. It was the second year in a row the Raiders defeated the RedHawks on a last-possession shot.

WSU trailed 44-28 at intermission Saturday but outscored Miami 30-13 in the second half. It was the school's greatest comeback since joining Division I in 1987, while the 13 points allowed in a half tied a school record set in 1974.

Duggins ranks eighth in the League in scoring at 14.6 points per game, while senior forward Scottie Wilson tops the circuit in field-goal percentage (.629) and is sixth in rebounding (6.3). Wislon missed Saturday's game with an eye injury suffered in the team's shootaround.

WSU closes a five-game homestand Tuesday against St. Bonaventure before heading west for a Saturday game at Cal State Fullerton.

Ramblers work overtime again
Loyola defeated Northern Illinois 76-72 in overtime Saturday, climbing to 4-5 on the season after winning in extra time for the second game in a row. The back-to-back OT outings were Loyola's first in nearly five years.

Junior forward Leon Young and junior guard J.R. Blount each scored 16 points in the victory, with sophomore forward Andy Polka adding a season-high 13 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two blocked shots. Sophomore forward Ross Forman tallied 11 points off the bench to match senior forward Tracy Robinson's total.

Blount ranks fifth on the League scoring charts with his 17.6 points-per-game average, while his 1.89 steals per outing are second on that list. Young is second in the League at seven rebounds per contest, supplementing his 11.9 points-per-game norm. Young has 37 points and 20 boards in his last two games.

Loyola led the League in scoring last season (69.9 points per game) but is last this year, averaging only 63.1 points per contest. LU has scored 70 or more points in each of its four victories, but is averaging only 54.8 per outing in its five losses.

The Ramblers hit the road for two games this week, visiting Saint Louis on Wednesday before heading across the state for a Saturday contest at UMKC.

Penguins return to court after layoff
(Note: YSU was idle last week while concentrating on final exams.)
Youngstown State slipped to 3-5 overall with a 77-54 setback at Cleveland State in the Penguins' League-opener on Dec. 8. YSU has lost three consecutive games, and is now winless in seven Horizon League openers since joining the circuit in 2001.

Youngstown State shot 36 percent versus the Vikings. Youngstown State is shooting only 34.8 percent during its three-game skid---including a 21.1-percent rate from three-point range---while averaging 52 points per game. Opponents are shooting 52.7 percent from the field during that span.

Senior forward John Barber leads the Penguins in scoring (14.1 points per game) and rebounding (six per outing). Barber scored 18 points against Cleveland State and has finished in double figures seven times in eight appearances this year.

Senior guard Byron Davis adds 14 points per contest, with junior forward Jack Liles' 11.4 points-per-game norm featuring a 54.3 percent touch from the field (seventh-best in the League). Sophomore guard Vance Cooksey ranks third at 4.38 assists per game.

The Penguins return to the court Monday at home against Robert Morris (Pa.) prior to a Friday match-up at Akron.

Titans also come back to court
(Note: UDM was idle last week while concentrating on final exams.)
Detroit dropped to 4-5 overall with two losses to open the League schedule. The Titans fell 53-46 to Butler on Dec. 6 before an 81-68 defeat at the hands of Valparaiso on Dec. 8.

Senior guard Jon Goode scored 21 points in each contest, adding ten assists and five steals in the two games. He has hit the 20-point mark five times already this season, matching Green Bay's Mike Schachtner and Cleveland State's Cedric Jackson for League honors in that department. Goode's season-best last winter was 18 points. His current 16.4 points-per-game average ranks sixth on the League scoring charts.

Goode has hit the 20-point mark in each of his last three games (averaging 22 per game during that span), and could become the first Titan with four in a row since Brandon Cotton had five such outings during the 2005-06 campaign.

Senior guard Zach Everingham ranks fifth in the League at 3.63 assists per game with a 4.83 assists-to-turnover ratio that is fifth-best in the nation.

Junior forward Chris Hayes stands third on the League field-goal percentage charts (.597) and tops the Titans at 5.6 rebounds per game.

The Titans return to the hardwood at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Monday, two days before visiting #14/11 Texas A&M.

Panthers lose game, top scorer
Milwaukee saw its losing streak reach six games with a 61-39 loss to Wisconsin on Wednesday.

The Panthers, 3-7 overall, suffered another setback Saturday when head coach Rob Jeter suspended senior forward Torre Johnson following an off-court incident. Johnson leads the league in rebounding (eight per game) and is fourth in scoring at 17.8 points per outing.

Wednesday's game drew a UWM regular-season record 10,017 fans at the U.S. Cellular Arena. It was also just the fourth time Milwaukee has hosted a BCS school since joining Division I in 1990.

The Panthers rank last in the League with a .411 field-goal percentage. Without Johnson's .504 clip, the rest of the roster is at 38.5 percent. Milwaukee has shot better than 44 percent from the floor only twice this season. Opponents, menawhile, are shooting a combined 51.3 percent during UWM's current six-game skid.

Senior forward Paige Paulsen is the only other Panther averaging in double figures (12.8 points per game). Paulsen is shooting nearly 45 percent (21-of-47) from three-point range.

Milwaukee's 39-point total marked the Panthers' lowest output since a 66-37 loss---also to Wisconsin---in 2004.

UWM hosts Central Michigan on Wednesday in the Panthers' only game of the week.

League teams return to action after finals
Basketball fans looking for a break from the Christmas shopping rush get a present this week as Horizon League teams return to action after taking time off for final exams. A total of 17 games are on tap this week, with many contests available for viewing online through the Horizon League Network.

The schedule begins Monday night when Youngstown State hosts Robert Morris (Pa.) on HLN, while Detroit is at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the Titans' first action since Dec. 8.

Both of Tuesday's contests are on HLN, with Cleveland State facing 2007 national runner-up Ohio State at Cleveland's Quicken Loans Arena. Wright State takes on St. Bonaventure, as well, in the finale of the Raiders' five-game homestand.

Three of Wednesday's five games can be viewed on the Horizon League Network, including a key early showdown as Butler hosts Bradley at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Milwaukee's home date with Central Michigan and UIC's encounter versus Toledo are also available online, with Detroit visiting Texas A&M and Loyola at Saint Louis to complete the day's schedule.

Youngstown State travels to Akron on Friday before a seven-game slate on Saturday. The HLN schedule features a pair of matinees with Northern Illinois at Green Bay and UIC hosting Howard, while Cleveland State's match-up against Central Michigan completes the Network's programming for the day. Other Saturday contests feature Loyola at UMKC, Butler at Florida Gulf Coast, Valparaiso at Wisconsin and Wright State at Cal State Fullerton.

The Horizon League's ten teams have combined for a 47-29 (.618) ledger against non-League competition so far this season.

horizonleague.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/121707aag.html

[Tipp City Raider]

Men's Basketball Release #8
Dec. 24, 2007

Horizon League Player of the Week

Ryan Tillema, Green Bay
Junior * Guard * Randolph, Wis. (Randolph)
Ryan Tillema led the Phoenix with 33 points and eight rebounds in Saturday's 85-76 victory over Northern Illinois. His 33 points were ten more than his previous career high and marked the most scored by a Phoenix player since Dec. 12, 2006. Tillema hit eight of 13 shots from the field, including five of ten from three-point range, while adding a 12-of-14 showing at the free-throw line. His trey with two seconds left in the first half staked Green Bay to a six-point halftime advantage, its largest of the half.

Other Top Performances for the Week Ending December 23

A.J. Graves, Butler
Sr. * G * Switz City, Ind.
Graves led the Bulldogs to back-to-back victories over Bradley and Florida Gulf Coast, averaging 19 points per game. He scored a game-high 21 points versus Bradley, and came back with a team-best 17 points at FGCU. He was a perfect 12-of-12 at the free-throw line for the week.

J'Nathan Bullock, Cleveland State
Jr. * F * Flint, Mich.
Bullock led the Vikings with 19 points in just 20 minutes Saturday, pacing CSU to an 86-70 victory over Central Michigan. He also had five rebounds and three assists in the contest, after posting a team-high 16 points in Tuesday's loss to Ohio State.

Leon Young, Loyola
Jr. * F * Long Beach, Calif.
Young averaged 16.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in two contests. Young poured in a career-best 24 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in Saturday's loss at UMKC, notching his second double-double of the season. He also had nine points at Saint Louis on Wednesday.

Paige Paulsen, Milwaukee
Sr. * F * Custer, S.D.
Paulsen scored 22 points to pace the Panthers to a 74-71 victory over Central Michigan on Wednesday, ending UWM's six-game losing streak. Paulsen hit six of 12 shots from the floor with four three-pointers while also grabbing eight rebounds.

Josh Mayo, UIC
Jr. * G * Merrillville, Ind.
Mayo scored 16 of his game-high 22 points in the second half to rally the Flames past Toledo on Wednesday. and posted 18 points in only 20 minutes in Saturday's rout of Howard. Mayo shot 65 percent (13-of-20) from the field and 67 percent (8-of-12) from three-point range.

Samuel Haanpää, Valparaiso
So. * G * Kerava, Finland
Haanpaa scored ten points in the first five minutes Saturday at Wisconsin, staking the Crusaders to an early nine-point lead over the Badgers. He finished with a team-high 16 points on six-of-eight shooting from the field and three rebounds in the 68-58 loss.

Scottie Wilson, Wright State
Sr. * F * Middletown, Ohio
Wilson posted per-game rates of 13.5 points and seven rebounds in two appearances last week. He led the Raiders with 19 points and eight rebounds in Saturday's 84-80 victory at Cal State Fullerton, and shot 73 percent (11-of-15) from the field in the two contests.

Jack Liles, Youngstown State
Jr. * F * Odenton, Md.
Liles scored 28 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in two games last week, shooting 61.1 percent (11-of-18) from the field. He scored 16 points with nine caroms Friday at Akron following a 12-point, seven-rebound effort versus Robert Morris (Pa.) on Monday.


News From Around the League

Crusaders fall short at Wisconsin

Valparaiso opens the week at 10-2 after having an eight-game winning streak snapped with a 68-58 loss at Wisconsin on Saturday. The Crusaders led 50-44 with seven minutes remaining but managed only two field goals the rest of the way.
Valpo led or was tied for the first 17:40 of the second half before hitting its fatal dry spell.Sophomore guard Samuel Haanpää led the Crusaders with 16 points.

The Crusaders feature four players averaging in double figures, with senior guard Shawn Huff leading the way at 11.8 points per game, followed by Haanpää (11.7), junior forward Urule Igbavboa (11.5) and senior guard Jarryd Loyd (10.1).All four are also among the League leaders in other categories with Huff ninth in assists (3.08 per outing), Igbavboa third in rebounding (6.8 per contest) and Haanpää (.472) and Loyd (.471) fourth and fifth, respectively, in three-point shooting.

That balance powers the League's highest-scoring offense, with Valparaiso averaging 74.3 points per game. Valpo was held under 60 points for the first time this season after averaging 82 points in its three previous contests.

Valpo returns to the hardwood Sunday night at North Carolina. The Tar Heels' number-one status in the polls marks the fourth year in a row Valpo has played the nation's top-ranked team.

Flames burning up the competition
UIC stretched its winning streak to five games with two victories last week, defeating Toledo 66-56 on Wednesday and Howard 97-58 on Saturday. The Flames are now 8-4 on the season including 6-0 at home.

UIC scored 57 points in the first half Saturday, finishing at 57 percent from the field, including a 13-of-24 effort from three-point range. Senior guard Karl White Jr. led five Flames in double figures with a career-high 20 points. UIC also set a school record with 25 steals Saturday.

The hot shooting is nothing new to UIC, which leads the League in field-goal shooting (.480) and three-point accuracy (.460). UIC is hitting 54.1 percent (180-of-333) of its shots at home including 54.6 percent (65-of-119) from long distance.

Junior guard Josh Mayo leads the Flames attack with a League-best 19 points-per-game scoring average. He is shooting 60.6 percent (40-of-66) from behind the arc, and s sixth in the circuit at 54.8 percent overall from the floor.

Freshman guard Robert Kreps is second on the UIC scoring charts at 9.5 points per game despite not starting a game yet this season. During his last six games, that rate is 13.7 per outing.

Sophomore guard Spencer Stewart ranks third in the League with a rate of 4.42 assists per game.

UIC is back in action Saturday, traveling to Akron in pursuit of its sixth consecutive victory.

Vikings continuing early-season success
Cleveland State split a pair of games last week, moving to 8-4 on the season. The Vikings had a three-game winning streak snapped with an 80-63 loss to Ohio State on Tuesday, but rebounded for an 86-70 victory over Central Michigan on Saturday. The Vikings are off to their best 12-game start since 1992-93.

Junior forward J'Nathan Bullock paced CSU with 19 points Saturday. The Vikings shot 53 percent from the floor and hit eight of 15 three-point attempts. Junior guard Cedric Jackson chipped in with 12 points and six assists.

Jackson ranks sixth on the League scoring charts at 16.5 points per game and tops the circuit with 5.25 assists and 2.92 steals per outing. Bullock is sixth in scoring (15 points per contest) and eighth in rebounding (six per game).

The Vikings lead the League in rebounding margin, out-working their foes by an average of 4.6 caroms per contest. CSU is also second in the League with its scoring pace of 73.3 points per game. Last year, the Vikings ranked last on the loop charts in both categories.

The Vikings take on another local rival Saturday, traveling to Kent State. The game is a homecoming of sorts for CSU coach Gary Waters, who posted a 92-60 mark in five seasons (1996-01) at KSU, and led the Golden Flashes to two NCAA tournaments. He was inducted into the KSU Hall of Fame this past summer.

Bulldogs continue climb in the polls
Butler carries an 11-1 record into the week following an 83-64 victory over Bradley on Wednesday and a 78-66 triumph at Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday. The Bulldogs remained 16th in the Associated Press national poll and climbed to 17th in the ESPN/USA Today canvass.

Butler posted a 49-point second half Wednesday, the team's highest one-period total of the season.

Senior forward Julian Betko has hit 14 of 23 three-point tries in BU's last five games. That .609 clip includes a four-of-five night at FGCU.

Senior guard A.J. Graves led the way with 38 points in the two games, while fellow senior Mike Green had 17 points, nine rebounds and six assists versus Bradley. Graves ranks fourth in the League in scoring (16.8 points per game) with Green second in assists (5.00 per outing) and ninth in scoring (14.7).Freshman center Matt Howard adds 11.5 points per game on 59 percent shooting from the field.

Senior forward Pete Campbell returned to action Wednesday, playing nine minutes after missing the previous three games with a sprained knee. Sophomore forward Avery Jukes also made his Butler debut versus the Braves.

Butler returns to action Friday at Southern Illinois. The contest, scheduled for a national television audience on ESPNU, is a re-match of last year's classic BracketBusters showdown.

Phoenix goes back on the road
Green Bay improved to 7-4 on the season with an 86-75 victory over Northern Illinois on Saturday. The contest was Green Bay's only home date in December.

The Phoenix set season highs with 28 free throws made and 33 attempted in a game that featured 53 fouls.

Junior guard Ryan Tillema scored a career-high 33 points against the Huskies, hitting eight of 13 shots from the field and 12 of 14 at the free-throw line. In the process, Tillema improved his season scoring average from 8.1 to 10.4 points per game.

Freshman guard Rahmon Fletcher is also at 10.4 points per outing, while junior forward Mike Schachtner is second in the League at 18.9 points per contest. Schachtner also is ninth in the League with a .524 field-goal percentage. Schachtner added 18 points Saturday for his tenth double-digit total in 11 appearances this season.

Junior forward Terry Evans ranks sixth on the loop rebounding charts at 6.2 per contest. He is also sixth in assists (3.36 per game) and third in steals (1.82 per outing).

The Phoenix hit the road again this week, closing the 2007 portion of the schedule Saturday at #7/7 Michigan State. The Spartans are the third Big Ten Conference opponent on the Phoenix schedule this year.

Raiders continue winning ways
Wright State climbed to 6-3 on the season with a pair of victories last week. After holding off St. Bonaventure 54-45 on Tuesday and adding an 84-80 triumph at Cal State Fullerton on Saturday, WSU has now won three games in a row and four of its last five.

The Raiders erased a 15-point deficit for the second time in eight days at Fullerton. WSU trailed by that margin (23-8) with 14:21 remaining in the first half before rallying for the victory. Wright State also erased a 44-28 halftime deficit to defeat Miami (Ohio) on Dec. 15.

Senior forward Scottie Wilson led the way with 19 points and eight rebounds at CSUF. He averages 11.4 points per game for the season while leading the League with a .660 field-goal percentage and ranking fourth with an average of 6.5 rebounds per contest.

Sophomore guards Vaughn Duggins and Todd Brown pace the Raiders in scoring, averaging 14.4 and 13 points per game, respectively. Brown is shooting 43 percent from three-point range, hitting four treys in Saturday's triumph. Duggins added 16 points in Tuesday's victory over St. Bonaventure.

Wright State heads to Chattanooga, Tenn., for the Dr Pepper Classic this week. The Raiders face Belmont on Friday before a Saturday meeting with either host Chattanooga or Murray State.

Ramblers come up empty in Show-Me State
Loyola fell to 4-7 on the season with two losses on its swing through Missouri last week. The Ramblers suffered a 60-43 defeat at Saint Louis on Wednesday before a 77-66 setback at UMKC on Saturday.

Junior guard Justin Cerasoli made his Loyola debut at Saint Louis and averaged 13 points in the two contests. Cerasoli, a former All-State performer at West Aurora (Ill.) High School, transferred to Loyola after two seasons at the University of Mississippi.

Junior guard J.R. Blount made only two of 22 field-goal attempts during the road trip, averaging six points. Blount had scored in double digits in each of the Ramblers' first nine outings, and still ranks seventh in the League at 15.5 points per game for the season.

Junior forward Leon Young picked up the slack with a career-high 24 points and 13 rebounds at UMKC. Young made all ten of his free-throw attempts in that game while posting his second double-double of the season.

Young's strong week raised his season scoring pace to 12.7 points per contest, and the junior ranks second in the League in rebounding (7.1 per game) and tenth in field-gal percentage (.518).

The Ramblers host Saint Mary's (Minn.) on Saturday in their only appearace at Gentile Center before Jan. 7.

Penguins try to stop slide
Youngstown State saw its losing streak reach five games with two setbacks last week. The Penguins fell 74-71 to Robert Morris (Pa.) on Monday before suffering a 79-59 defeat at Akron on Friday.

The contest at Akron featured 59 fouls and 76 free-throw attempts between the teams. Akron attempted more charity tosses (43) than field goals (39). YSU, meanwhile, finished below 40 percent for the fourth time during its current five-game skid.

The Penguins have relied on seven players to handle most of the scoring this year. Senior forward John Barber, senior guard Byron Davis, junior forward Jack Liles, sophomore guard Vance Cooksey, freshman guard Vytas Sulskis, junior forward Mel Johnson and senior forward Dwight Holmes have combined for 602 of the team's 647 points (93 percent) this season.

Davis leads the way, ranking tenth in the League at 14.6 points per game with Barber and Liles adding 12.6 and 11.9, respectively. Barber also leads the team at 5.8 rebounds per outing. Cooksey is fourth in assists (4.20 per game) and second in steals (2.10 per contest).

YSU returns to action Saturday, opening a four-game homestand against Slippery Rock. The Beeghly Center run, which also includs games versus UIC, Loyola and Milwaukee, is YSU's longest of the season. Titans return home trying to stop skid
Detroit stands at 4-7 overall after a pair of losses in Texas last week. The Titans fell at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 70-55, on Monday and 79-39 at #14/11 Texas A&M on Wednesday as their losing streak reached five games.

UDM shot a season-low 24.1 percent from the field against the Aggies, making only 14 of 58 field-goal attempts. Texas A&M, meanwhile, finished at 57 percent..

Senior guard Jon Goode leads the League with six games of 20 or more points, including a 22-point effort at TAMUCC---his fourth consecutive game of 20 or more. He ranks sixth on the loop scoring charts at 16.6 points per game for the season.

Junior forward Chris Hayes is the only other Titan in double figures, averaging 10.2 points per game while topping the Titan charts with an average of 5.8 rebounds per appearance.

Senior guard Zach Everingham ranks seventh in the League at 3.30 assists per game with a 4.71 assists-to-turnover ratio that is among the best in the nation. Everingham has committed only seven turnovers in 228 minutes of action this season.

The Titans return to Calihan Hall on Saturday, facing DePaul. The Blue Demons are the first Big East Conference member to visit the UDM arena since Syracuse posted a 93-79 victory there in 1980.

Panthers return to win column
Milwaukee ended a six-game slide of its own Wednesday with a 74-71 victory over Central Michigan. The Panthers improved to 4-7 on the year by hitting 29 of 42 free-throw attempts, overcoming a 40.4 percent shooting night from the field.

Senior forward Paige Paulsen scored 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds to power the Panthers to the victory. Paulsen raised his season averages to 13.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per contest, with the latter number ranking fifth on the League charts. Paulsen is shooting 46 percent from three-point range this season.

Senior forward Marcus Skinner logged his second double-double in the last three games with ten points and ten rebounds versus the Chippewas. Skinner is averaging 8.7 points and 7.7 rebounds in 25 minutes during his last three games after totals of 13 points and 15 rebounds in UWM's first eight contests.

Milwaukee head coach Rob Jeter dismissed senior forward Torre Johnson from the team following his arrest in an off-court incident a week ago. At the time of his dismissal, Johnson led the League in rebounding (eight per game) and was third in scoring (17.8 points per outing). He also stood among the League's top ten in free-throw accuracy, steals and blocked shots.

UWM is back in action Saturday when the Panthers visit Wyoming.

Bulldog women continue winning ways, as well

Butler's men's basketball team has basked in the national spotlight during the past two seasons. The Bulldogs have won the 2006 NIT Season Tip-Off and the 2007 Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout, set a Horizon League single-season record with 29 victories last year, shared the Horizon League regular-season championship, and reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Championship. In the process, Butler became the first team in League history to reach the top ten in the national polls last February.

The school's women's team hasn't garnered the same national attention, but coach Beth Couture's team simply continues to post victories. BU's women carry a 9-1 record into the Christmas holiday, giving Butler a composite 20-2 record between its two hardwood clubs. Only three schools can claim better marks through Sunday, putting Butler in some elite company. North Carolina>'s 22-1 combined record includes the top-ranked men's team in the country, with Kansas> and Tennessee each sporting 21-2 marks.

The Southeastern Conference and Big East Conference each feature five of the top 18 combined men's and women's records, with the Big 12 Conference boasting four. The Atlantic 10 Conference (Dayton), the Pacific-10 Conference (Stanford), the Atlantic Coast Conference (UNC) and the Horizon League have the others on this list.

horizonleague.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/122407aad.html

[Tipp City Raider]

Men's Basketball Release #9
Dec. 31, 2007

Horizon League Player of the Week

Todd Brown, Wright State
Sophomore * Guard * Canton, Ohio (McKinley)
Todd Brown won Most Valuable Player honors after leading Wright State to the championship of the Dr Pepper Classic. Brown scored a career-high 26 points on 10-of-17 shooting Saturday as the Raiders outlasted Belmont 78-74. He also had six assists and two steals in that contest, and came back with 21 points in Sunday's 87-82 victory over host Chattanooga. For the week, Brown shot 55 percent (16-of-29) from the field with nine rebounds and seven assists.

Previous Players of the Week: Josh Mayo, UIC (Nov. 12); Cedric Jackson, CSU (Nov. 19); Mike Green, BU (Nov. 26); Matt Howard, BU (Dec. 3); Josh Mayo, UIC (Dec. 10); Samuel Haanpää (Dec. 17); Ryan Tillema, GB (Dec. 24).

Other Top Performances for the Week Ending December 30
Mike Green, Butler
Sr. * G * Philadelphia, Pa.
Green led the Bulldogs past Southern Illinois 57-55 on Friday, scoring 19 points and handing out four assists. He had seven of Butler's final 13 points as the Bulldogs handed SIU only its fifth home-court loss since 2001.

D'Aundray Brown, Cleveland State
Fr. * G * Youngstown, Ohio
Brown came off the bench to score a career-high ten points and grab six rebounds during the Vikings' 84-69 loss at Kent State on Saturday. He made three of six field-goal attempts and all four of his free-throw tries during a 19-minute stint.

Jon Goode, Detroit
Sr. * G * Flint, Mich.
Goode scored a season-high 25 points in the Titans' 70-64 loss to DePaul on Saturday. He was 9-of-17 from the field including seven three-pointers, while also posting six rebounds and four assists.

Mike Schachtner, Green Bay
Jr. * F * Somerset, Wis.
Schachtner led the Phoenix with 20 points against seventh-ranked Michigan State on Saturday, hitting the 20-point mark for the sixth time this year and the 15th in his career. He was 9-of-16 from the field with two three-pointers.

Justin Cerasoli, Loyola
Jr. * G * Chicago, Ill.
Cerasoli scored 17 points with six rebounds, five assists and four steals in only 21 minutes to lead Loyola past Saint Lary's (Minn.) on Saturday. He hit six of eight shots from the field including three-of-five from three-point range.

Paige Paulsen, Milwaukee
Sr. * F * Custer, S.D.
Paulsen led the Panthers with 26 points in Saturday's 80-66 victory at Wyoming. He connected on five three-pointers in reaching the 20-point mark for the fourth time this year while also collecting seven rebounds and four steals.

Robert Kreps, UIC
Fr. * G * Forsyth, Ill.
Kreps tied his career high with 19 points on eight-of-13 shooting from the field with three three-pointers in Saturday's 79-73 loss at Akron. Kreps scored 16 points in the second half to fuel a late comeback attempt.

Jarryd Loyd, Valparaiso
Sr. * G * Lincolnwood, Ill.
Loyd scored a career-best 24 points off the bench against top-ranked North Carolina on Sunday. The senior set personal-bests with nine field goals and five three-pointers in 31 minutes during the Crusaders' 90-58 loss.

Vytas Sulskis, Youngstown State
Fr. * G * Vilnius, Lithuania
Sulskis scored 12 points and collected a career-best eight rebounds in the Penguins' 77-63 victory over Slippery Rock on Saturday. He made three three-pointers among his four field goals to help YSU snap a five-game losing streak.

News From Around the League

Crusaders can't keep up with Tar Heels
Valparaiso dropped to 10-3 on the season following a 90-58 loss at top-ranked North Carolina on Sunday. Valpo missed its first 12 shots and spotted UNC a 13-0 lead 7:14 into the game but closed the first half on an 11-1 run to trail 36-31 at the break. The Crusaders eventually tied the game at 37-all, but a 27-2 flurry by UNC put the game out of reach.

Senior guard Jarryd Loyd led Valparaiso with a career-high 24 points including five three-pointers, but was the only Crusader in double figures. Freshman guard Michael Rogers added a season-high eight points.

Sunday's contest marked the fourth year in a row Valpo has played the nation's top-ranked team (Illinois in 2004-05, Duke in 2005-06, Ohio State last year).

The Crusaders shot a season-worst 35.4 percent from the field in Chapel Hill, N.C., but still feature four players averaging in double figures. Sophomore guard Samuel Haanpää took over the lead on the team charts at 11.5 points per game, just ahead of senior guard Shawn Huff (11.4) and Loyd (11.2). Junior forward Urule Igbavboa adds 10.6 points per game and is fourth in the League at 6.5 rebounds per contest.

Valpo puts a 12-game homecourt winning streak on the line Wednesday against NAIA entry Indiana Wesleyan before returning to Horizon League play Saturday at Butler.

Flames stumble on the road
UIC dropped to 8-5 on the season following a 79-73 loss at Akron on Saturday, snapping a five-game winning streak. The Flames are now 2-5 on the road, compared to 6-0 at home.

Freshman guard Robert Kreps matched his career high with 19 points, including 16 in the second half. Kreps was 7-of-8 from the floor in the final 20 minutes, including a pair of three-pointers. Kreps moved into double figures for the season, averaging 10.2 points per contest. That rate improves to 14.4---on 58 percent shooting from the floor---during his last seven outings.

Kreps and senior guard Robert Bush made their first starts of the season, with Bush also logging 19 points against the Zips. Bush had posted a total of 31 points in his first seven appearances this year prior to Saturday.

UIC was without sophomore guard Spencer Stewart (broken hand) and senior guard Karl White Jr. (sprained right ankle). Stewart, who ranks third in the League with a rate of 4.42 assists per game, will miss 4-6 weeks with his injury.

Junior guard Josh Mayo ranks second on the League scorng charts at 18.5 points per game. He finished with 12 points, and has reached double figures in 12 of 13 outings this winter.

UIC hits the road for two games this week, visiting Youngstown State on Thursday and Cleveland State on Saturday.

Vikings try to rebound from road loss
Cleveland State brings an 8-5 record into the new year, posting its second consecutive winning month despite an 84-69 loss at Kent State on Saturday. CSU, 4-3 in November and 4-2 in December, logged back-to-back winning months for the first time since January and February, 2001.

Junior guard Cedric Jackson leads the League in both assists (five per game) and steals (2.9 per outing). He could become only the fifth player in League history---and the first since 1993-94---to accomplish that feat. Jackson also averages 16.2 points per contest, sixth-best on the loop charts.

Junior center Chris Moore has made 15 consecuive field-goal attempts in the last five games. Moore boasts a .587 field-goal percentage for the season but is just short of the minimum (three field goals per game) required to qualify for the League leader charts.

CSU has not finished a season with a positive rebounding margin since 2000-01---and ranked last in the League in that category last year---but leads the circuit at plus-3.9 per outing this season. Junior forward J'Nathan Bullock leads the way at 5.8 caroms per contest. The Vikings average 13.9 offensive boards per game.

The Vikings begin the 2008 portion of the schedule with two home games this week, facing Loyola on Thursday and UIC on Saturday.

Bulldogs win showdown, climb to 12-1
Butler improved to 12-1 on the season with a 57-55 victory at Southern Illinois on Friday. The Bulldogs have won four games in a row and remain 16th in this week's Associated Press national poll and 17th in the latest ESPN/USA Today canvass.

Butler became the fourth non-conference foe to win at SIU since 1999 as the Salukis are now 82-5 in their last 87-5 at home since the start of the 2001-02 campaign.

Senior guard A.J. Graves made only two of six three-point attempts, but canned the game-winning trey at the buzzer. He finished with ten points to reach double figures for the 86th time in his career. Graves ranks fifth in the League with his 16.3 points-per-game scoring pace, and leads all active Horizon League players with 1,556 career points.

Butler made 20 free-throw attempts, while SIU was only 3-of-12 from the charity stripe. The Bulldogs have hit at least 20 free throws in each of their last four games.

Freshman forward Matt Howard added 15 points against the Salukis. He has scored in double figures in seven of Butler's last eight contests, averaging 13.9 points and 5.5 rebounds during that span.

Butler is idle until Saturday afternoon, when the Bulldogs host instate foe and current League co-leader Valparaiso.

Raiders continue winning ways
Wright State won the championship of the Dr Pepper Classic at Chattanooga, defeating Belmont 78-74 in overtime Saturday and the host school 87-82 on Sunday. The Raiders are now 8-5 overall, entering the week on a five-game winning streak after winning their first in-season tournament championship since 1992.

Junior guard Todd Brown was the tournament's Most Valuable Player, averaging 23.5 points in the two victories. He netted a career-high 26 points against Belmont, and shot 55 percent from the floor for the weekend. Brown has scored 20 or more points four times this season after hitting that mark only twice as a freshman.

Senior forward Scottie Wilson also garnered All-Tournament honors, posting 14 points---including ten in overtime---and 17 rebounds in Saturday's triumph. WIlson ranks second in the League in rebounding (7.6 per game) and should take over the top spot on that list this week. He also boasts a loop-best 61.2 percent field-goal mark.

Sophomore guard Vaughn Duggins scored 22 points in the title game, raising his pace to 15.1 points per outing. He is seventh in the League in that category, three spots ahead of Brown's 14.9 average.

Wright State returns home for two League contests this week, hosting Milwaukee on Thursday and Green Bay on Saturday.

Phoenix ready for home cooking
Green Bay stands at 7-5 overall following a 93-75 loss at #7/7 Michigan State on Saturday. The Phoenix played five of six games on the road in December, but has five of its next seven at the Resch Center, where Green Bay owns a perfect 4-0 record this year and a 56-23 ledger since the facility opened in November 2002.

Junior guard Mike Schachtner paced the Phoenix with 20 points on 9-of-16 shooting against the Spartans. He hit the 20-point mark for the sixth time this season and the 15th of his career. Schachtner leads the League in scoring at 19 points per game.

Junior guard Ryan Tillema added 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting Saturday, his first game since a career-high 33-point effort versus Northern Illinois the previous Saturday. Tillema's recent outbursts have raised his season scoring pace to 10.9 points per game.

Freshman guard Rahmon Fletcher handed out a career-high ten assists versus MSU. He scored 29 points against South Dakota State on Dec. 1, but has taken the role of distributor of late with 19 set-ups in his last two outings. Fletcher has taken over the team lead in that category with an average of 3.33 per game for the season.

Green Bay resumes Horizon League play this weekend, hosting Detroit on Thursday and Wright State on Saturday.

Ramblers close 2007 in style
Loyola opens the new year at 5-7 following an 89-45 rout of Saint Mary's (Minn.) on Saturday. The 44-point margin was Loyola's most lopsided victory since the Ramblers defeated Morgan State 105-55 on Dec. 14, 1991. Loyola's 89 points also marked the team's highest total since a 96-74 triumph over John Carroll on Nov. 17, 2006.

Fourteen players scored Saturday, led by junior guard Justin Cerasoli with 17 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals. The transfer from the University of Mississippi is averaging 14.3 points per game in three outings since becoming eligible.

Junior forward Darrin Williams made the most of his first career start, logging personal-bests of seven points and 12 rebounds. Williams had 21 points and 12 boards in his first 11 appearances this winter. Senior guard Dave Telander added a dozen points, his highest single-game total since Dec. 18, 2004.

Junior guard J.R. Blount finished with 11 points in 16 minutes Saturday, and ranks eighth in the League in scoring at 15.1 points per game. Junior forward Leon Young is third on the loop's rebounding charts at 7.1 per outing.

The Ramblers travel east this week, with contests at Cleveland State on Thursday and at Youngstown State on Saturday. Loyola returns home to face Butler next Monday.

Penguins get back in win column
Youngstown State snapped a five-game losing streak Saturday, defeating Slippery Rock 77-63 to improve to 4-7 on the season.

Freshman guard Vytas Sulskis scored 12 points and grabbed a season-high eight rebounds. YSU matched its season-low with nine turnovers.

Senior guard Byron Davis led the way with 15 points against SRU, continuing his strong play this season. Davis averages a team-best 14.7 points per game in 2007-08. He has reached double figures in scoring nine times already this season, matching his total for the entire 2006-07 campaign.

Senior forward John Barber added 13 points and eight rebounds for the Penguins. He is sixth on the League charts with an average of six rebounds per game while also scoring 12.6 points per contest.

Barber has scored in double figures nine times this year, while junior forward Jack Liles has seven double-figure outings and averages 11.5 points per contest. Liles had hit twin figures in five consecutive games before an eight-point showing in 18 minutes of action versus Slippery Rock.

YSU continues a four-game homestand, hosting UIC on Thursday and Loyola on Saturday before closing the Beeghly Center run on Monday versus Milwaukee.

Panthers return to win column
Milwaukee owns a 5-7 record after defeating Wyoming 80-66 on Saturday for its second victory in a row. The Panthers are also 2-3 on the road this year after posting a 2-15 mark away from home last winter.

Senior forward Paige Paulsen paced the Panthers with 26 points, hitting five three-pointers while adding seven rebounds and four steals. Paulsen hit the 20-point mark for the fourth time in 2007-08, and leads active players on the UWM roster with rates of 14.7 points and 6.4 boards per game this year.

Freshman guard Deonte Roberts set collegiate bests with 17 points and nine assists on Saturday. The nine set-ups were the most by a Panther since Clay Tucker registered nine versus Green Bay in 2003. Roberts has 21 assists in his last four outings after posting 14 in his first eight games.

Milwaukee committed only eight turnovers at Wyoming, the team's second-best showing in that department this year. The Panthers also shot 46 percent from the field Saturday, marking the third time this year UWM has accomplished that feat. Milwaukee shot 47.5 percent versus Upper Iowa on Nov. 9 and 47 percent against South Dakota State on Nov. 11.

UWM hosts Wright State on Thursday and closes a two-game homestand Saturday against Detroit.

Titans still trying to end losing streak
Detroit fell to 4-8 on the season after suffering its sixth consecutive loss, a 70-64 setback at home against DePaul on Saturday. The Titans finished the month of December at 0-6 after a 4-2 start in November.

Detroit's last six opponents have combined to shoot 52.7 percent from the field and average 70.5 points per game. UDM's defense allowed only 44.1 percent shooting and 61.8 points per contest in November. The Titans have also shot just 39.1 percent from the floor in the last six games, compared to 48.7 percent in November.

Senior guard Jon Goode scored a season-high 25 points against the Blue Demons, hitting the 20-point mark for the League-best seventh time this year. Goode, who ranks fourth in the League in scoring at 17.3 points per game, needs 67 points to reach 1,000 for his career.

Junior forward Chris Hayes is the only other Titan in double figures at 10.5 points per game.

Detroit set season-highs with 16 three-pointers and 32 attempts behind the arc on Saturday. Both numbers were the most for a Titan team since UDM finished 18-of-32 versus Milwaukee on Feb. 26, 2000. The Titans had only six two-point baskets in 28 tries against DePaul.

The Titans travel to Wisconsin for a pair of games this week. Detroit resumes Horizon League play at Green Bay on Thursday before a Saturday contest at Milwaukee.

Teams hope to change fortunes as well as calendar
As any calendar year draws to a close, many people make resolutions to make improvements during the New Year.

Several Horizon League teams followed through on that commitment in 2007, as the ten current members posted a 168-135 (.554) composite record in the last 12 months, compared to a 162-163 (.498) ledger in 2006. Of course, 79 wins (and 79 losses) came in head-to-head action last year---71 in regular-season League play and eight more during the Horizon League Championship. That leaves the League's ten teams with a 97-64 record outside the circuit---an impressive .602 winning percentage.

Butler won 80 percent of its 35 games played in 2007, a year that included the Bulldogs' run to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16. Wright State recorded its first-ever Horizon League championship in 2007, part of a calendar that included a .774 winning percentage---compared to .516 in the previous year.

Four other teams took steps forward in 2007, with Valparaiso winning 67.7 percent of its games (compared to a 16-16 mark in 2006), Green Bay improving from 17-15 (.532) to 17-14 (.548), UIC climbing from 15-18 (.455) to 15-15 (.500) and Cleveland State jumping from 12-21 (.364) to 12-17 (.414).

horizonleague.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/123107aad.html

[bballraider]

Raiders continue winning ways
Wright State won the championship of the Dr Pepper Classic at Chattanooga, defeating Belmont 78-74 in overtime Saturday and the host school 87-82 on Sunday. The Raiders are now 8-5 overall, entering the week on a five-game winning streak after winning their first in-season tournament championship since 1992.

Junior guard Todd Brown was the tournament's Most Valuable Player, averaging 23.5 points in the two victories. He netted a career-high 26 points against Belmont, and shot 55 percent from the floor for the weekend. Brown has scored 20 or more points four times this season after hitting that mark only twice as a freshman.

Senior forward Scottie Wilson also garnered All-Tournament honors, posting 14 points---including ten in overtime---and 17 rebounds in Saturday's triumph. WIlson ranks second in the League in rebounding (7.6 per game) and should take over the top spot on that list this week. He also boasts a loop-best 61.2 percent field-goal mark.

Sophomore guard Vaughn Duggins scored 22 points in the title game, raising his pace to 15.1 points per outing. He is seventh in the League in that category, three spots ahead of Brown's 14.9 average.

Wright State returns home for two League contests this week, hosting Milwaukee on Thursday and Green Bay on Saturday.

They need a fact checker. I thought WSU only had 3 losses and were on the road this week.

[Big D]

loneraider said:

Justin Cerasoli, Loyola
Jr. * G * Chicago, Ill.
Cerasoli scored 17 points with six rebounds, five assists and four steals in only 21 minutes to lead Loyola past Saint Lary's (Minn.) on Saturday. He hit six of eight shots from the field including three-of-five from three-point range.

Loyola also had a pretty good game against Saint Lary's (Minn.).

[bballraider]

raiderd said:

loneraider said:

Justin Cerasoli, Loyola
Jr. * G * Chicago, Ill.
Cerasoli scored 17 points with six rebounds, five assists and four steals in only 21 minutes to lead Loyola past Saint Lary's (Minn.) on Saturday. He hit six of eight shots from the field including three-of-five from three-point range.

Loyola also had a pretty good game against Saint Lary's (Minn.).

Funny stuff, I went to all catholic schools and I do not remember hearing about Lary. ;D

[Raiderfan]

bballraider said:

raiderd said:

Loyola also had a pretty good game against Saint Lary's (Minn.).

Funny stuff, I went to all catholic schools and I do not remember hearing about Lary. ;D

Here you go bball...........St Lawerance ( Larry to his good friends . Martyred in 258 AD

www.newadvent.org/cathen/09089a.htm

[Tipp City Raider]

Men's Basketball Release #10
Jan. 7, 2008

Horizon League Player of the Week

John Barber, Youngstown State
Senior * Forward * Detroit, Mich. (Renaissance)
John Barber averaged a double-double of 21 points and 10.5 rebounds to lead Youngstown State past UIC and Loyola last week. He posted career-high totals of 24 points and 15 rebounds against the Flames on Thursday, powering YSU to an 80-68 victory. Barber came back with 18 points and six boards Saturday as the Penguins defeated Loyola, 71-61. For the week, he shot 52 percent from the field while playing 77 of the 80 minutes.

Josh Mayo, UIC (Nov. 12); Cedric Jackson, CSU (Nov. 19); Mike Green, BU (Nov. 26); Matt Howard, BU (Dec. 3); Josh Mayo, UIC (Dec. 10); Samuel Haanpää (Dec. 17); Ryan Tillema, GB (Dec. 24), Todd Brown, WSU (Dec. 31).

Other Top Performances for the Week Ending January 6

Mike Green, Butler
Sr. * G * Philadelphia, Pa.
Green scored 24 points with eight rebounds and a career-high five steals to lead the Bulldogs past Valparaiso, 73-65, on Saturday. He was 4-of-5 from the field with three treys and 11-of-14 at the line while also handing out four assists.

J'Nathan Bullock, Cleveland State
Jr. * F * Flint, Mich.
Bullock averaged 14 points and 7.5 rebounds as CSU moved into first place in the League standings. He scored nine of his 12 points in the final 5:06 against Loyola on Thursday, and paced the Vikings with 16 points against UIC on Saturday.

Jon Goode, Detroit
Sr. * G * Flint, Mich.
Goode matched his season-high with 25 points in Saturday's 55-53 loss at Milwaukee. He scored 13 of UDM's final 14 points in that contest, following a 19-point outing in a loss at Green Bay on Thursday.

Ryan Tillema, Green Bay
Jr. * G * Randolph, Wis.
Tillema averaged 20 points in two victories, hitting 13-of-19 shots from the field. He posted 23 points with five treys during an 8-for-10 night against Detroit on Thursday, and added 17 points to lift the Phoenix past Wright State on Saturday.

J.R. Blount, Loyola
Jr. * G * Milwaukee, Wis.
Blount averaged 14 points and 3.5 assists in two road contests last week. He scored 16 points versus Youngstown State on Saturday, following a 12-point, five-assist effort against Cleveland State on Thursday.

Paige Paulsen, Milwaukee
Sr. * F * Custer, S.D.
Paulsen hit the game-winning three-pointer to give UWM a 55-53 victory over Detroit on Saturday, capping a night that featured 17 points and six rebounds. He also had 15 points in Thursday's victory over Wright State.

Karl White Jr., UIC
Sr. * G * Omaha, Neb.
White scored a career-high 21 points at Youngstown State on Thursday. He made eight of 17 shots from the field and four of six free-throw attempts to reach the 20-point mark for the second game in a row.

Jarryd Loyd, Valparaiso
Sr. * G * Lincolnwood, Ill.
Loyd averaged 17 points in two games. He led Valpo with 19 points and nine assists in Wednesday's rout of Indiana Wesleyan, and added 15 points against Butler on Saturday. Loyd was 13-of-21 from the field in the two games.

Todd Brown, Wright State
So. * G * Canton, Ohio
Brown collected 45 points in two games, canning seven three-pointers among his 17-of-34 effort from the floor. He scored 24 points in a 52-49 loss at Green Bay on Saturday following a 21-point effort against Milwaukee on Thursday.

News From Around the League

Vikings sit alone atop League standings
Cleveland State starts the week in sole possession of first place, owning a 3-0 League record and 10-5 overall mark after defeating Loyola 63-55 on Thursday and posting a 68-51 victory over UIC on Saturday. The Vikings have won six of their last eight games.

CSU already has matched last year's totals for victories (10-21) and League wins (3-13). The 3-0 League ledger is the program's best start in loop play since opening the 1999-2000 campaign at 4-0 in the Midwestern Collegiate Conference. The 10-5 overall start is also CSU's best since an 11-4 mark in 1992-93.

Junior forward J'Nathan Bullock averaged 14 points and 7.5 rebounds for the week. He ranks sixth in the League at 6.5 rebounds per game while also averaging 14.4 points per outing. He made his 50th consecutive start Saturday, and needs 48 points to reach the 1,000 mark for his career.

Senior guard Kevin Francis provided a spark off the bench with averages of 10.5 points and eight rebounds for the week, including a career-best 13 boards versus UIC.

Cleveland State attempts to re-write history with this week's travels. On Thursday, CSU travels to Detroit---a city where the Vikings have never won in 20 previous attempts (including 0-19 at Calihan Hall). Cleveland State closes the week at Wright State on Saturday.

Phoenix wins at home, hits the road again
Green Bay improved to 9-5 overall and 3-1 in League play after a pair of home-court victories last week. The Phoenix ran past Detroit 78-52 on Thursday and then held off Wright State for a 52-49 triumph on Saturday, moving to 6-0 at the Resch Center in 2007-08.

Saturday's victory lifted Green Bay to 5-0 in games decided by seven points or fewer. The 101 points allowed are also the fewest given up in back-to-back games since the 2003-04 season. The Phoenix limited both teams to 19-of-56 shooting (33.9 percent) from the field.

Green Bay shot 58 percent against Detroit---the fifth time this season the Phoenix has finished over 50 percent. Saturday's contest saw the hosts shoot just 37 percent but outscore Wright State 16-5 at the free-throw line.

Junior guard Ryan Tillema led the Phoenix in scoring in both games, posting 23 points against UDM and 17 versus the Raiders. Tillema's effort on Thursday featured eight-of-ten shooting from the field with five three-pointers. He is averaging 22.5 points in his last four outings, and 12.2 for the season. Junior forward Mike Schachtner leads Green Bay in scoring, ranking third in the League at 17.6 points per contest.

The Phoenix is on the road for a pair of games this week. Green Bay's contest at Butler on Thursday airs nationally on ESPNU, before the Phoenix travels to Valparaiso on Saturday. Bulldogs keep rolling along
Butler stands at 13-1 overall and 2-1 in League play after defeating Valparaiso 73-65 on Saturday. It was only the fourth home game of the year for Butler, which climbed to 14th in both the Associated Press national poll and the latest ESPN/USA Today canvass.

Butler's start matches the best 14-game ledger in school history, and the Bulldogs are 42-8 since the start of the 2006-07 campaign.

Butler hit a season-high 28 of 33 free throws Saturday, marking the fifth game in a row in which the Bulldogs made at least 20 charity tosses. BU has outscored its opponents 118-58 from the stripe during that span, which coincides with the team's five-game winning streak.

Freshman forward Matt Howard scored 12 points Saturday for his fifth double-figure outing in a row. He averages 11.8 points per game for the season, joining senior guards Mike Green (15.6) and A.J. Graves (15.5) and senior forward Pete Campbell (11.3) in double figures.

Green matched his career-high with 24 points against Valpo while adding eight rebounds, four assists and five steals. He ranks second in the League with a rate of 4.86 assists per game,

Butler faces a busy week, starting Monday at Loyola. The Bulldogs return home Thursday to meet Green Bay in front of a national (ESPNU) television audience before renewing its rivalry with Milwaukee on Saturday.

Crusaders suffer first Horizon League loss
Valparaiso brings an 11-4 overall record into the week, falling to 2-1 in the League with a 73-65 loss at Butler on Saturday. The Crusaders' ledger also includes a 93-46 rout of Indiana Wesleyan on Wednesday.

Valpo outscored IWU 53-18 in the second half of that game to reach the 11-win earlier than any Crusader team since at least 1946-47.

Senior guard Jarryd Loyd paved the way with 19 points and nine assists Wednesday, and led Valpo with 15 points and five helpers versus Butler. He leads the team in both categories (11.9 and 3.53, respectively)---with the latter number ranking fifth in the League---despite coming off the bench in all 15 games this season.

Valpo leads the League in scoring offense (73.9 points per game) and field-goal percentage (.469), boasting a balanced attack with four double-digit scorers. Senior guard Shawn Huff adds 11.3 points per game, with sophomore guard Samuel Haanpää at junior forward Urule Igbavboa at 11.2 and 10.2. Igbavboa also stands fifth on the League rebounding chars with a norm of 6.5 caroms per contest.

Valpo, which is 6-0 at home but 5-4 away from the ARC this season, puts a 13-game homecourt winning streak on the line this week, hosting Milwaukee on Thursday and Green Bay on Saturday. Only ten Division I teams have longer current home-court streaks than Valparaiso.

Penguins build winning streak
Youngstown State has won three games in a row, improving to 6-7 overall and 2-1 in League play after defeating UIC 80-68 on Thursday and getting past Loyola 71-61 on Saturday. YSU swept the Chicago schools in consecutive games for the first time in history.

Senior forward John Barber had a career night against UIC, posting collegiate-highs of 24 points and 15 rebounds in the victory for his second double-double of the season. He ranks third in the League at 6.7 rebounds per game while adding 13.9 points per outing to support senior guard Byron Davis (14.5).

Freshman guard Vytas Sulskis registered a career-high 26 points Thursday, the third-best single-game total by a YSU freshman since the program moved to Division I in 1981.

The Penguins have attempted 142 free throws in their last five games after getting to the line only 132 times in the first eight games.

YSU faces a busy schedule this week, beginning Monday at home against Milwaukee. The Penguins then hit the road, traveling to Wright State on Thursday and visiting Detroit on Saturday. A victory at home Monday would give the Penguins their first four-game winning streak since November 2000.

The Penguins have lost seven in a row at WSU since their last win there in 1994, while Youngstown State is 0-10 all-time at Detroit.

Flames' road woes continue
UIC brings a three-game losing streak into the week, slipping to 8-7 overall and 22 in League play with an 80-68 loss at Youngstown State on Thursday and a 68-51 setback at Cleveland State on Saturday. The Flames have lost seven of nine games away from home this season.

UIC shot a season-low 28.6 percent from the field (16-of-56) and was outrebounded 44-30 at Cleveland State. Senior guard Karl White Jr. led UIC with a season-high 21 points against Youngstown State.

The Flames lead the League in three-point shooting (.428) this season, including a 54.6 percent mark (65-of-119) at home. UIC is just 54-of-159 (34 percent) behind the arc on the road, however. That disparity is also apparent in overall field-goal accuracy with the Flames at 54 percent (180-of-333) at home but 40.6 percent (205-of-505) away from the Pavilion.

Junior guard Josh Mayo ranks second in the League with a 17.9 points-per-game scoring pace, one of six categories in which he stands among the circuit's top ten. He is the only Flame in double figures.

Junior center Scott VanderMeer logged five blocked shots Saturday---his fifth such outing of the year---and remains atop the League charts with a rate of 2.80 rejections per game.

UIC is idle until Saturday, when the Flames host cross-town rival Loyola. Panthers return to win column
Milwaukee enters the week on a four-game winning streak, leveling its overall (7-7) and League (2-2) records with a 75-64 victory over Wright State on Thursday and a 55-53 triumph against Detroit on Saturday. UWM had lost six in a row immediately before the current streak. which is the program's longest run of success since the end of the 2005-06 campaign.

The Panthers canned a season-high 12 three-pointers against Wright State and used the trey to defeat Detroit two days later. Senior forward Paige Paulsen's triple with three seconds left in regulation was the difference as Milwaukee erased a 14-point deficit in the final 6:43. It was the third time this year the Panthers have come back from a double-digit hole to claim a victory.

Paulsen leads the team in scoring (14.9 points per game, ninth-best in the League) and rebounding (6.4, sixth on that loop chart).

Junior guard Ricky Franklin had a career-high 24 points Thursday. Franklin had hit double digits in only three of UWM's first 11 games with a season-high of 14 points, but made eight of 11 shots from the field including five three-pointers. Franklin averages 9.2 points per game for the season.

UWM opens a four-game road swing Monday at Youngstown State, before traveling to Valparaiso on Thursday and visiting Butler on Saturday.

Raiders drop a pair on the road
Wright State dropped to 8-5 overall and 1-3 in the League, losing 75-64 at Milwaukee on Thursday and falling 52-49 at Green Bay on Saturday.

The Raiders matched their season-low with seven turnovers against UWM but also had their worst shooting night of the year with 33.9 percent accuracy from the field.

Senior forward Scottie Wilson has moved into the top spot on the League rebounding charts at 7.2 boards per game, with senior forward Jordan Pleiman boasting a loop-best .593 field-goal percentage.

Sophomore guards Todd Brown and Vaughn Duggins average 16.1 and 14.5 points per game, respectively, with Brown's rate ranking fourth in the League. He has six 20-point games this season, including each of the last five. Brown had 21 points against Milwaukee and posted 24 at Green Bay.

Duggins left Saturday's game early with a sprained foot, with junior forward Gavin Horne also sidelined with a sprained ankle. Sophomore guard John David Gardner could return to action this week after being injured against Belmont on Dec. 29.

The Raiders return to the Nutter Center this week, hosting Youngstown State on Thursday and facing League front-runner Cleveland State on Saturday.

Ramblers come up empty on Ohio trip
Loyola carries a 5-9 overall mark, including a 1-3 League ledger, following two losses in northeast Ohio. The Ramblers fell 63-55 at Cleveland State on Thursday and had a comeback bid fall short in Saturday's 71-61 loss at Youngstpwn State. Loyola has now lost six consecutive games away from the Gentile Center.

Junior forward Leon Young did not travel to Ohio due to a case of pneumonia. Junior Darrin Williams has started in Young's place for the last three games, and posted a career-high 21 points with eight rebounds at CSU. WIlliams entered that game with only 42 points in his collegiate career.

Junior guard J.R. Blount started his 50th consecutive game at YSU, and needs seven points to hit the 900 mark for his career. He leads Loyola with a rate of 14.9 points per game, while Young is second in the League at 7.1 rebounds per outing.

Senior forward Tracy Robinson registered a career-high 19 points at YSU.

Loyola ends a stretch of three games in five days Monday, hosting Butler. The teams met three times last year, with the games decided by a total of nine points. Two went to overtime, including BU's one-point victory in the semifinals of the Horizon League Championship.

Loyola closes the week Saturday, visiting cross-town rival UIC.

Titans hoping eight (losses) is enough
Detroit dropped to 4-10 overall and 0-4 in League play after losing a pair of games in Wisconsin last week. UDM nearly ended the streak Saturday but a three-pointer with three seconds left gave Milwaukee a 55-53 victory after Green Bay defeated the Titans 78-52 on Thursday.

The eight-game losing streak is the longest of coach Perry Watson's 15-year tenure at the school, and the longest for the Titans since a 12-game skid in 1988-89.

Senior guard Jon Goode matched his season high with 25 points---17 in the second half---at UWM. He also posted 19 in the loss at Green Bay and needs 23 more to hit the 1,000 mark for his career. He would join Butler's A.J. Graves (1,561) and Green Bay's Mike Schachtner (1,059) as the only active players in the League to reach four figures. Goode leads the League in scoring this season, averaging 18 points per game with eight outings of 20 or more.

Junior forward Chris Hayes recorded his second double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds against the Panthers. Hayes stands fourth on the loop rebounding charts with a rate of 6.6 caroms per contest.

Detroit attempts to end the losing streak during a two-game homestand this week. UDM hosts League-leader Cleveland State on Thursday before a Saturday matinee against Youngstown State.

Horizon League teams defend home court early in loop schedule
Horizon League teams compiled a 10-0 record at home last week, including a perfect 9-0 sweep in League contests. The home court has been important in the early-season standings, with home teams winning 14 of the first 18 League games this year.

This week's schedule features several critical match-ups, starting Monday when Milwaukee visits Youngstown State. The Panthers have won four in a row to move back to .500 (7-7) on the season, while YSU brings a three-game streak into the contest. Monday's other game has Butler at Loyola in a rivalry that saw two of last year's three meetings go to overtime.

Butler and Green Bay take the ESPNU spotlight Thursday when the Phoenix visits Hinkle Fieldhouse. The rest of that day's slate has Valpo facing Milwaukee in an attempt to remain unbeaten at home, while Cleveland State tries for a 4-0 League start against Detroit. Wright State hosts Youngstown State in the other League game that evening.

On Saturday, Milwaukee visits Butler with Cleveland State at Wright State, Youngstown State at Detroit and Green Bay at Valparaiso. The final game Saturday features cross-town rivals UIC and Loyola squaring off at the UIC Pavilion.

horizonleague.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010708aad.html

[Tipp City Raider]

Men's Basketball Release #11
Jan. 14, 2008

Horizon League Player of the Week

Matt Howard, Butler
Freshman * Forward * Connersville, Ind. (Connersville)
Matt Howard led the Bulldogs in scoring in all three victories last week, averaging 19.3 points and seven rebounds versus Loyola, Green Bay and Milwaukee. His 22 points powered Butler past Green Bay on a nationally televised (ESPNU) game, while his 17-point effort lifted the Bulldogs over Milwaukee on Saturday. For the week, Howard shot 65 percent (17-of-26) from the floor and hit 24 of 31 free-throw attempts while also blocking six shots.

Previous Players of the Week: Josh Mayo, UIC (Nov. 12); Cedric Jackson, CSU (Nov. 19); Mike Green, BU (Nov. 26); Matt Howard, BU (Dec. 3); Josh Mayo, UIC (Dec. 10); Samuel Haanpää (Dec. 17); Ryan Tillema, GB (Dec. 24), Todd Brown, WSU (Dec. 31); John Barber, YSU (Jan. 7).

Other Top Performances for the Week Ending January 13

J'Nathan Bullock, Cleveland State
Jr. * F * Flint, Mich.
Bullock helped keep the Vikings undefeated in League play, averaging 14 points and six rebounds in two victories. He logged his third double-double of the year with 12 points and 11 rebounds in Saturday's 65-63 victory at Wright State.

Eulis Stephens, Detroit
So. * G * Detroit, Mich.
Stephens scored in double figures twice after starting the week averaging 3.7 points per game. He netted a career-high 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting at Cleveland State on Thursday, and added 14 points at Youngstown State on Saturday.

Mike Schachtner, Green Bay
Jr. * F * Somerset, Wis.
Schachtner averaged 22.5 points in two road games last week. He scored 34 points Saturday at Valparaiso, hitting all seven of his shots behind the arc during a 12-of-17 performance. Schachtner also had 11 points at Butler on Thursday.

J.R. Blount, Loyola
Jr. * G * Milwaukee, Wis.
Blount averaged 19 points in two losses last week. He had a season-high 23 points in Saturday's loss at UIC following a 16-point performance versus Butler on Monday. Blount has hit double digits 14 times in 16 games this season.

Deion James, Milwaukee
Jr. * G * Milwaukee, Wis.
James hit double figures off the bench in two of the Panthers' three games last week, including a career-best 20 points to lift UWM past Valpo on Thursday. Six of those came in the final 20 minutes as the Panthers rallied for the victory.

Scott VanderMeer, UIC
Jr. * C * Dyer, Ind.
VanderMeer posted a double-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds during the Flames' 78-68, double-overtime victory over Loyola. He registered four blocked shots, and started a 7-0 run with his tip-in early in the second extra session.

Shawn Huff, Valparaiso
Sr. * F * Helsinki, Finland
Huff scored 18 points---15 in the second half---to pace the Crusaders past Green Bay 82-73 on Saturday. His three-pointer with 2:30 remaining put Valpo ahead to stay. Huff also scored 11 points in Thursday's loss to Milwaukee.

Jordan Pleiman, Wright State
Sr. * F * Fort Loramie, Ohio
Pleiman was 13-of-15 from the field and averaged 15.5 points and seven rebounds in two games. His had 16 points in Thursday's victory over Youngstown State before a 15-point effort Saturday versus Cleveland State.

John Barber, Youngstown State
Sr. * F * Detroit, Mich.
Barber scored a game-high 22 points to lead the Penguins to their first-ever victory at Detroit, a 70-66 decision on Saturday. He was 10-of-16 from the field in that game, and averaged 12.7 points and 6.3 rebounds for the week.

News From Around the League

Vikings still looking down on rest of League
Cleveland State stayed atop the League standings at 5-0 (12-5 overall) following two victories last week. CSU ended an 0-20 drought in Detroit by defeating the Titans 74-64 on Thursday, and knocked off Wright State 65-63 on Saturday to push its winning streak to four games.

The 5-0 start in loop play is CSU's best since 1992-83, when the Vikings won their first 15 games in Mid-Continent Conference action. The 12-5 overall mark also represents the Vikings' best start in 15 years. Cleveland State finished that (1992-93) campaign at 22-6 overall.

CSU grabbed 20 more rebounds than its opponents last week, including 21 offensive boards at Wright State---helping offset the Raiders' 54.1 percent shoting from the floor. Cleveland State also overcame 13-point deficits both at Detroit and in Dayton.

Cleveland State has won eight of its last 11 games, holding opponents to 26 percent shooting (32-of-123) from three-point range in the eight victories but allowing 54 percent (33-of-61) accuracy beyond the arc in the three losses.

Junior forward J'Nathan Bullock needs 20 points to hit the 1,000 mark for his career. He had 12 points and 11 rebounds Saturday, and averages 14.4 points per contest for the year.

CSU hosts Butler in a battle for first place Thursday. The Vikings close the brief, two-game homestand Saturday versus Valparaiso.

Bulldogs set up Thursday showdown
Butler is just one-half game behind the Vikings, climbing to 5-1 in the League and 16-1 overall with three victories last week. The Bulldogs won 66-55 at Loyola on Monday before defeating Green Bay (74-65 on Thursday) and Milwaukee (72-56 on Saturday) at home.

BU brings an eight-game winning streak into the week, standing 12th in both national polls. Only top-ranked North Carolina (17) has more victories than Butler this season.

Senior guard Mike Green has scored in double figures in eight consecutive games, matching BU's winning streak. Green has averaged 17.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists per outing during the run, and is the only Horizon League player to lead his team in all three categories for the season (15.4 , 5.8, and 4.7, respectively).

Freshman forward Matt Howard also boasts an eight-game double-figure streak, hitting twin digits in nine of his ten starts this year. Howard leads all League freshmen with his rates of 13.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game for the season and ranks second overall in the League with a .584 field-goal percentage.

Butler posted season highs with 29 free throws and 41 attempts Thursday.

First place in the League standings is on the line Thursday when the Bulldogs visit Cleveland State. Butler closes the week Saturday at Youngstown State.

Flames work OT to win city bragging rights
UIC improved to 9-7 on the season and 3-2 in League play, outlasting Loyola 78-68 in double overtime on Saturday. Junior guard Josh Mayo led the Flames with 20 points, and junior forward Scott VanderMeer added 13 points and 15 rebounds for the victory. Saturday's contest was UIC's longest since a four-overtime game versus Milwaukee on Jan. 11, 2001.

Senior guard Karl White Jr. chipped in with 19 points against the Ramblers. White entered the season with a career-high of 17 points but has scored 19 or more three times in his last four games.

Mayo leads the nation in three-point field-goal shooting (.539) and is third in the League in scoring at 18 points per game. He is averaging 24 points per outing at home this season. As a team, the Flames are shooting a League-best 42.6 percent from behind the arc (fourth-best in the nation).

UIC continues its homestand this week, with Wright State coming to the Pavilion on Thursday and Detroit visiting on Saturday. The Flames are 7-0 at home this season, shooting 51.7 percent (208-402) from the field in those games, including 52.6 percent (72-of-137) from three-point range.

The Flames are averaging 81.9 points per game at the Pavilion this season, compared to 63.3 away from home.

Crusaders' homecourt streak ends
Valparaiso split a pair of games last week, moving to 12-5 overall and 3-2 on the season. The Crusaders fell 71-69 to Milwaukee on Thursday---ending Valpo's 13-game homecourt winning streak---but rebounded to defeat Green Bay 82-73 on Saturday.

Senior guard Jarryd Loyd came off the bench to score 18 points Thursday, marking the fourth consecutive time he had led Valpo in scoring. Sophomore guard Samuel Haanpää took over team honors with 24 points Saturday, including 17 in the first 6:32 versus Green Bay.

The Crusaders committed only five turnovers Saturday, the team's lowest total since Dec. 9, 1991, when Valpo committed five miscues against Notre Dame. Loyd handed out seven of Valpo's 17 assists in the contest.

Loyd has not started a game this year, but still leads the Crusaders in scoring with a rate of 12.2 points per contest. Senior forward Shawn Huff adds 11.6, with Haanpää at 11.4. Junior forward Urule Igbavboa grabs a team-best 6.4 rebounds per outing.

Saturday marked the fourth time this year that Valparaiso has scored 80 or more points. The Crusaders lead the League in scoring (74.1 per game) and field-goal accuracy (.470).

Valpo hits the road this week, traveling to Youngstown State on Thursday before a Saturday stop at Cleveland State.

Panthers keep moving forward
Milwaukee won two of three games last week, climbing to 9-8 overall and 4-3 in League play. UWM defeated Youngstown State 61-39 on Monday and won 71-69 at Valparaiso on Thursday before having a six-game winning streak snapped in Saturday's 72-56 loss at Butler.

The Panthers already have matched their victory total for all of last season (9-22), and the team's four road victories are twice as many as Milwaukee had last winter. The six-game winning streak had been Milwaukee's longest since the middle of the 2005-06 campaign.

The 39 points allowed Monday marked Milwaukee's best defensive showing since yielding 21 to Mount Senario in December 2000. The Panthers held YSU to 24.5 percent shooting from the field, the third-lowest mark by a UWM opponent in the school's Division I history.

Junior guard Deion James led the way at Valparaiso with 20 points off the bench. He hit seven of ten shots from the field and rallied the Panthers after leading scorer Paige Paulsen fouled out. James had nine points in the final 5:11 as UWM erased a seven-point deficit to end Valpo's 13-game homecourt winning streak.

Milwaukee was perfect in 15 attempts at the free-throw line at YSU and is 37-of-45 in its last three games at the charity stripe.

Milwaukee has only one game on the schedule this week, visiting Green Bay on Saturday. Phoenix drops a pair on Indiana trip
Green Bay slipped to 9-7 overall record and 3-3 in the League, losing 74-65 at Butler on Thursday and suffering an 82-73 setback on Valparaiso on Saturday.

Junior forward Mike Schachtner scored 34 points at Valpo, matching the highest single-game total by a League player this year. Schachtner was 12-of-17 from the floor including a perfect 7-of-7 from three-point range in the contest. UIC's Jsoh Mayo posted 34 points against Bradley on Nov. 10.

Schachtner leads the League in scoring (18.3 points per game) and free-throw percentage (.889), while ranking second in three-point shooting (.500) and fifth in field-goal accuracy (.525). He is the only player in the League to rank among the top ten on all three shooting-percentage charts.

As a team, Green Bay leads the League with a .768 free-throw percentage which ranks xxxth in the nation.

Green Bay has held its last four opponents to 38.3 percent shooting (87-of-227) from the field. The Phoenix limited Butler to 3-of-19 accuracy behind the arc on Thursday.

The Phoenix puts a 6-0 home-court record on the line Saturday when Green Bay hosts in-state rival Milwaukee. Green Bay has gone 75 games since losing three in a row. The team's last three-game slide was in November 2005.

Penguins salvage final game of busy week
Youngstown State lost two of three games last week, dipping to 7-9 overall and 3-3 in League play. The Penguins fell 61-39 at home to Milwaukee on Monday and 66-55 at Wright State on Thursday before posting a 70-66 victory at Detroit. That outcome on Saturday marked YSU's first victory in 11 tries at UDM.

The Penguins connected on 11 three-pointers at Calihan Hall, marking the 11th time in Jerry Slocum's three-year tenure that Youngstown State has made at least ten treys.

YSU is 7-0 when leading or tied at halftime this year and 0-9 when trailing at the break. The Penguins are also 6-0 when shooting 46 percent or better from the field following Saturday's 46.6 percent effort.

Junior guard Byron Davis led the way Saturday with 17 points and eight assists, hitting double figures in scoring for the 12th consecutive game. Davis, who hit twin digits only nine times last year, leads the team in scoring at 14.1 points per outing. Senior forward John Barber adds 13.7 points per contest and ranks third in the League at 6.6 rebounds per game.

YSU host Valparaiso on Thursday before 12th-ranked Butler comes to the Beeghly Center on Saturday. Thursday's contest marks the first time Valpo has visited Youngstown since Feb. 10, 2001, when more than 6,000 fans attended the Mid-Continent Conference showdown.

Raiders come close in homecourt split
Wright State carries a 9-6 overall ledger, moving to 2-4 after splitting two home games last week. The Raiders defeated Youngstown State 66-55 on Thursday before falling 65-63 to Cleveland State on Saturday.

Four of WSU's six League games have been decided by five points or fewer, with the Raiders standing 1-3 in those contests.

Junior guard Vaughn Duggins registered 34 points with nine assists in the two games. Duggins played only seven minutes versus Green Bay on Jan. 5 due to a sprained foot, but had 16 points against YSU and 18 more in Saturday's loss. He was 11-of-19 from the field with five three-pointers for the week.

Duggins' presence is important, as Wright State is already shorthanded. Sophomore guard John David Gardner will miss 4-6 weeks with a broken bone in his left foot, while junior forward Gavin Horne is expected to miss at least another week with a sprained ankle.

Senior forward Jordan Pleiman averaged 16.5 points last week, hitting 13 of 15 shots from the field. He leads the League in field-goal accuracy (.622), with senior forward Scottie Wilsom boasting the circuit's top rebounding average at 7.1 caroms per contest.

Wright State travels to Chicago this week, facing UIC on Thursday prior to a Saturday contest at Loyola.

Ramblers' streak hits four games
Loyola stands at 5-11 overall and 1-5 in the League, riding a four-game losing streak after a 66-55 home-court loss to Butler on Monday and a 78-68, double-overtime setback at UIC on Saturday.

Junior guard Justin Cerasoli scored a career-high 21 points against the Flames, including ten in the overtime sessions. Cerasoli has averaged 13.4 points and 4.7 rebounds in seven games since becoming eligible following his transfer from the University of Mississippi.

Junior guard J.R. Blount added 23, his highest single-game total since a 27-point effort at Cleveland State on Feb. 1, 2007. Blount hit four three-pointers at UIC after logging only three triples in his previous eight outings. He needs 68 points to reach the 1,000 mark for his career.

Junior forward Leon Young returned to the floor with 13 minutes of action at UIC. Young, who averages 11.8 points and a team-high 6.5 rebounds per contest, had missed the previous four games with pneumonia.

Senior guard Cortney Horton made his first career start at UIC, logging four points, for rebounds and three assists.

Loyola returns to the Gentile Center for two games this week, hosting Detroit on Thursday and Wright State on Saturday. The Ramblers are 4-4 on campus this year, compared to 1-7 away from home.

Titans' slide continues
Detroit fell to 4-12 on the year and remains winless in six League games. The Titans dropped a 74-64 decision to Cleveland State on Thursday before a 70-66 setback against Youngstown State on Saturday. UDM has lost ten games in a row since defeating Eastern Michigan 72-68 on Nov. 28.

Senior guard Jon Goode became the 34th player in school history to reach the 1,000-point mark for his career. Goode's 21 points Saturday give him 1,014 in a Titan uniform and marked the ninth time this season he has hit the 20-point mark. Goode ranks second in the League in scoring, averaging 18.1 points per game.

Veteran sideline boss Perry Watson took an indefinite leave of absence from his post. Associate head coach Kevin Mondro serves as interim coach in Watson's absence. Mondro is in his 11th season on Watson's staff after playing three seasons (1993-96) for the Titans.

Sophomore guard Eulis Stephens scored a career-high 16 points at CSU and added 14 against Youngstown State, hitting 13 of 22 shots for the week. Stephens' previous high was 11 points, and he entered the week averaging 3.7 points per game for the season.

Detroit's current ten-game skid is the longest since a 12-game slide in 1998-89. The Titans try to halt the streak this week, visiting Loyola on Thursday and UIC on Saturday.

First place on the line this week
The Horizon League spotlight shines on the Wolstein Center on Thursday, when Cleveland State hosts Butler in a battle for first place in the Horizon League standings. CSU is the League's last unbeaten team (5-0 in loop play), while 12th-ranked Butler brings a 5-1 ledger and eight-game winning streak into the contest.

The BU/CSU match-up is one of four games on the schedule Thursday, with Valparaiso at Youngstown State, Wright State at UIC and Detroit trying to snap a ten-game losing streak as the Titans visit Loyola.

On Saturday, Valparaiso visits Cleveland State with Butler at Youngstown State, Wright State at Loyola and Detroit at UIC. In-state rivals Milwaukee and Green Bay square off at the Resch Center in the fifth game Saturday, with all five of those contests featuring special ceremonies as part of the Horizon League's fifth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration.

Road teams won five of the 11 games played last week, but home teams still boast a 19-10 (.655) record in League action this season. Cleveland State (2-0), Butler (2-1), and Valparaiso (2-1) are the only League teams with winning records away from home in loop play, with Milwaukee (2-3), Youngstown State (1-2) and Green Bay (1-3) boasting the only other road victories.

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