Valpo Takes First, Wright State Slides Into Second on Sunday

Valparaiso went 2-0 on its road swing through Wright State and Detroit, while Butler went 1-1, giving the Crusaders sole possession of first place in the Horizon League and bringing Wright State into a tie for second.

The Crusaders got off to a hot start at Calihan Hall, knocking down 11 of their first 12 field goals and keeping Detroit (10-9, 4-3 Horizon) at arm's length throughout in a 78-68 victory.  The win bumped Valparaiso (14-5, 6-1 Horizon) to the top of the League ladder.

After the Titans used three Valpo turnovers to get out to a 5-0 lead, Ryan Broekhoff helped bring the Crusaders back, knocking down a pair of three-pointers to fuel a 22-4 run that all but decided the contest.  Broekhoff's first triple was the first of 11 straight possessions on which Valparaiso scored, in which they opened a 25-13 lead.

Taking a 39-28 advantage into the half, Valpraiso shot 51.5 percent in the game's first 20 minutes.  Brandon Wood finished the game with 17 points for the Crusaders, while Matt Kenney had a career-best 16.  Nick Minnerath posted a game-high 23 for the Titans, while Ray McCallum recorded 17.

The Crusaders hold a one-game lead over both Butler (13-6, 5-2 Horizon) and Wright State (12-7, 5-2 Horizon), after the Raiders took a 69-64 contest at the Nutter Center.  A 14-4 closing run helped Wright State snap a seven-game losing streak against Butler.

Down 60-55, A.J. Pacher and Troy Tabler brought WSU within a single point before Cooper Land gave the Raiders the lead with just under two minutes to play.  Butler went right back to Matt Howard to reassume a 62-61 lead, but with 46 ticks left, N'Gai Evans' runner and-one put Wright State ahead to stay.  Evans added two more free throws to finish with a career-best 26 points.

Butler had one more chance to tie late, but Shelvin Mack's three-point attempt went halfway down the cylinder before spinning out with 2.6 seconds left.  Tabler added two free throws to create the game's final margin.

Land ended the night with 13 points, while Vaughn Duggins had 10.  Andrew Smith led the Bulldogs with 15 points, while Matt Howard and Mack each had 12.

The victory brought Wright State, Butler and Cleveland State into a three-way tie for second in the Horizon League.

Butler and Valpraiso will host Green Bay and Milwaukee next weekend, while Wright State and Detroit head to Youngstown State and Cleveland State.  The Raiders and Vikings till tip off in the Horizon League Game of the Week on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET.