Non-Conference Saturday Sees League Teams Pick Up 5 Wins

INDIANAPOLIS -- Horizon League men's basketball teams recorded five victories on Saturday, as Butler, Cleveland State, Detroit, Milwaukee, and Wright State all tallied wins.

Butler (5-4) had no problem with Mississippi Valley State, leading by more than 10 points for three quarters of the game in a 91-71 rout of the Delta Devils.  The Bulldogs forced 15 turnovers, converting the miscues into 25 points.  Matt Howard and Andrew Smith controlled the paint, finishing the night with a combined 35 points on 11-of-16 shooting.  Howard ended the night with 25 points, knocking down 11-of-12 free throws.

Shelvin Mack added a career-high eight assists to go along with 12 points.

Cleveland State (12-0) continued its school-record start to the season, becoming the first Division I team to 12 wins with a 74-62 road win over defending Southland Conference champion Sam Houston State.  The Vikings raced out to a 13-point halftime lead and were never truly threatened in the second half.  Trey Harmon scored a season-best 21 points, picking up 13 points in the game's final 20 minutes.

Norris Cole helped the Vikings outscore the Bearkats, 44-31, in the first half, tallying 13 of his 19 points in the first 20 minutes.  For the fourth straight game, Cleveland State knocked down at least 10 three-pointers, going 10-for-21 on the afternoon.

In Ypsilanti, Mich., Detroit's Ray McCallum had the finest game of his young career, recording 31 points and eight rebounds in a 68-65 overtime win over Eastern Michigan.  Despite going just 7-for-19 from the free-throw line in the extra frame, Detroit (6-5) recorded its first road win of the season.

McCallum filled the stat sheet, scoring nine of his career-high 31 points in overtime.  Along with the career high point and rebound totals, McCallum added four steals and two assists.

Lamarcus Lowe blocked a late three-point attempt by Eastern Michigan, but two missed free throws gave the Eagles one more chance, but the attempt caromed off the rim, giving the Titans the victory.

Unsure of whether its game would be played due to blizzard-like conditions in Brookings, S.D., Milwaukee shot 62.8-percent on the night, heating up Frost Arena in an 82-70 win over South Dakota State.  Four Panthers scored in double figures, led by Tony Meier's career-best 19 points.

14 three-pointers carried the Panthers, led by Meier's 5-of-7 effort.  Ja'Rob McCallum was a perfect 4-for-4 for Milwaukee, who went 6-of-10 from long distance in the second half, opening up the game after taking a three-point lead into the half.  A pair of three-pointers by Meier extended the lead to 58-47 at the 10-minute mark and the Panthers were never really threatened down the stretch.

Wright State (5-5) picked up its second win of the week, pulling away from Tusculum, 60-47, led by Troy Tabler's 15 points.  Dating back to last season, the Raiders tallied its 11 straight victory at the WSU Nutter Center.

The Raiders struggled from the field, hitting just 39.5 percent from the floor, while Tusculum went 20-for-38 in the game and 11-of-17 in the opening half.  Free throws carried Wright State throughout, as they hit 26-of-31 freebies.  Matt Vest (8-of-8), Vaughn Duggins (7-of-7) and Tabler (4-of-4) were all perfect from the line.