Men's Basketball Release #13

Jan. 28, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

Horizon League Player of the Week
Marcus Skinner, Milwaukee
Senior * Forward * Flint, Mich. (Southwestern Academy / Mott C.C.)
Marcus Skinner recorded a pair of double-doubles, averaging 15.5 points and 11 rebounds in two Panther victories. He posted career-highs of 16 points and 12 boards in Thursday's 66-58 victory over Youngstown State, and added 15 points and ten boards as the Panthers defeated Cleveland State on Saturday. He also shot 65 percent (13-of-20) from the floor and grabbed 13 offensive rebounds. Skinner leads the League with five double-doubles this season, including three in a row.

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); Matt Howard, BU (Jan. 14); Jon Goode, UDM (Jan. 21).

Other Top Performances for the Week Ending January 27

Matt Howard, Butler
Fr. * F * Connersville, Ind.
Howard registered his third double-double of the year with 15 points and ten rebounds versus Loyola on Thursday, and led the Bulldogs with 20 points Saturday as Butler defeated UIC to take over first place in the League standings.

Cedric Jackson, Cleveland State
Jr. * G * Columbus, N.J.
Jackson notched his second double-double of the year with 16 points and a career-high 11 rebounds Saturday at Milwaukee. He opened the week with 19 points, including four-of-four shooting behind the arc, at Green Bay.

Chris Hayes, Detroit
Jr. * F * Chicago, Ill.
Hayes registered 16 points and six rebounds Saturday versus Wright State. He hit seven of 14 shots from the floor against the Raiders as Detroit rallied from a 14-point, first-half deficit to take a brief lead before falling 66-57.

Terry Evans, Green Bay
Jr. * F * St. Louis, Mo.
Evans scored a career-high 16 points Thursday as Green Bay handed Cleveland State its first League loss of the season. He canned a three-pointer to put the Phoenix ahead to stay and also grabbed eight rebounds in that contest.

J.R. Blount, Loyola
Jr. * G * Milwaukee, Wis.
Blount reached the 1,000-point mark for his career, hitting the game-winning basket to cap a 19-point performance at Valparaiso on Saturday. He also had 16 points Thursday in a 63-50 loss at Butler.

Scott VanderMeer, UIC
Jr. * C * Dyer, Ind.
VanderMeer collected 21 rebounds at Valparaiso on Thursday, becoming the fourth player in League history to grab 20 boards in a loop contest. He also had nine points in that outing and posted 11 points Saturday at Butler.

Jarryd Loyd, Valparaiso
Sr. * G * Lindenwood, Ill.
Loyd's half-court buzzer-beater sparked a 17-2 run by Valpo in Thursday's 60-56 over UIC. He added two free throws with 13 seconds left to cap a 13-point performance in that game and had ten points and six assists Saturday versus Loyola.

Todd Brown, Wright State
So. * G * Canton, Ohio
Brown led the Raiders past Detroit with 18 points on 6-of-13 shooting. He hit two three-pointers, and added a season-high seven rebounds, a blocked shot and two steals to extend WSU's winning streak to three games.

Vytas Sulskis, Youngstown State
Fr. * G * Vilnius, Lithuania
Sulskis averaged 17 points and 6.5 rebounds in two games for the Penguins. He scored a game-high 19 points at Green Bay on Thursday, part of a week in which he was 11-of-22 from the field including four three-pointers.

Horizon League At a Glance

Games going down to the wire
Fourteen of the first 47 League games have been decided by five or fewer points, with 20 others decided by 6-10 points. Last week's nine League contests featured an average margin of 8.4 points.

Home teams are 30-17 overall in League play. Butler, Valparaiso and Wright State are each 3-2 away from home, with Cleveland State (2-2) and Milwaukee (3-3) at .500 on the road in League action. The other five teams are a combined 3-19 as visitors.

Little room for error in the standings
All ten League teams reached the halfway point of the 18-game Horizon League schedule last week. With just over a month remaining in the regular season, four teams are separated by only one game in the middle of the pack, with Valparaiso, Wright State and Green Bay tied for fourth place at 5-4 and UIC seventh at 4-5. That split is important, with seeds 3-6 hosting first-round action in the 2008 Horizon League Men's Basketball Championship, which begins March 4.

New "Top (Bull)dog"
Butler took over first place in the standings with two victories last week, while Cleveland State suffered its first two League losses of the year at Green Bay and Milwaukee. Butler, ranked 12th in both the Associated Press national poll and the ESPN/USA Today coaches' canvass, is 19-2 overall. This week's polls and RPI rankings can be found on page 13 of this week's release.

Butler's Green on Naismith Trophy's mid-season watch list
Butler senior guard Mike Green is one of 30 players under consideration for the Naismith Trophy, presented by AT&T. Green leads the Bulldogs in scoring (15.1 points per game), rebounding (six per contest) and assists (a League-best 4.86 per outing). The four finalists for the award will be announced later this month. For more information on the award and a list of the 30 candidates, log on to www.naismithawards.com.

Panthers making charge toward the top
Milwaukee has won nine of its last ten games to move into third place in the League standings. The Panthers have lost only once since Dec. 12.

News From Around the League

Bulldogs win twice, take over top spot
Butler improved to 19-2 overall and moved into first place in the League standings (8-2) after sweeping the Chicago teams last week. Butler defeated Loyola 63-50 on Thursday and posted a 73-57 triumph over UIC on Saturday.

Freshman Matt Howard scored 20 points in Saturday's victory, his 12th consecutive double-figure effort. He has shot 67 percent (43-of-65) from the field in his last seven outings, and is second in the League at 60.4 percent for the year.

Senior guard Mike Green added 15 points Saturday, and also has hit double figures in 12 consecutive outings. Green is the only League player leading his team in scoring, rebounding and assists, ranking among the League leaders in all three categories (sixth at 15.1 points per game, 11th at six rebounds per contest and atop the loop charts with 4.86 set-ups per outing).

The Bulldogs shot 68 percent in the first half Saturday and finished at 53 percent (27-of-51) for the game. It was BU's best showing since hitting a season-high 59.6 percent against Texas Tech in the championship game of the Great Alaska Shootout on Nov. 24.

Senior guard A.J. Graves scored 16 points against UIC, his highest total since a 17-point night versus Florida Gulf Coast on Dec. 22.

Butler is idle until Feb. 5, when the Bulldogs open a three-game road swing at Valparaiso.

Vikings suffer first League setbacks
Cleveland State dropped to 14-7 overall and 7-2 in League play after back-to-back losses in Wisconsin. Green Bay handed the Vikings their first League setback by a 59-50 count on Thursday, and Milwaukee defeated CSU 79-71 on Saturday.

The Vikings were outrebounded in both games---45-40 by the Phoenix and 43-34 by UWM---and shot a season-low 28.3 percent from the floor in Thursday's defeat. Cleveland State had lost the battle of the boards only three times in its first 19 games, and still leads the League in rebound margin (plus-4.0 per game).

Junior center George Tandy blocked five shots, giving him 103 in his collegiate career. Tandy posted 71 rejections in two years at Eastern Illinois University and ranks second in the League with 1.60 per outing this season.

Junior guard Cedric Jackson posted his second double-double of the year with 16 points and a career-high 11 rebounds at Milwaukee. Jackson ranks ninth in the League in scoring with 15 points per game, three spots ahead of junior forward J'Nathan Bullock's 13.6 per-game norm. Jackson leads the circuit in steals (2.62 per game) and is second with 4.76 assists per appearance.

CSU continues a four-game road swing this weekend, traveling to at UIC on Thursday and playing at Loyola on Saturday.

Panthers' hot streak continues
Milwaukee moved up to third place in the League standings at 7-3 and improved to 12-8 overall with two more victories last week. The Panthers have won nine of their last ten games overall, including a 76-69 decision against Youngstown State on Thursday and a 79-71 verdict over Cleveland State on Saturday.

UWM is 8-3 in games decided by ten points or fewer this season.

Senior forward Paige Paulsen led five Panthers in double figures with 24 points and nine rebounds Thursday, and registered a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds Saturday despite making only three of 13 field-goal attempts against CSU. Paulsen ranks fifth in the League in scoring (15.3 points per game) and third in rebounding (seven caroms per contest).

Senior forward Marcus Skinner posted a pair of double-doubles, averaging 15.5 points and 11 rebounds in the two victories. Skinner leads the League with five double-doubles this season.

Milwaukee shot a modest 40.8 (49-of-120) percent from the field but grabbed 32 offensive rebounds in the two games. UWM has collected at least ten offensive boards in 17 of 20 games.

The Panthers set season-highs with 29 free throws and 41 attempts Saturday and tied a season-low with six turnovers against YSU.

Milwaukee travels to Detroit on Thursday before a Saturday stop at Wright State.

Crusaders keep playing them close
Valparaiso stands at 14-7 overall and 5-4 in the League. The Crusaders rallied to defeat UIC 60-56 on Thursday but fell victim to a late rally by Loyola in Saturday's 65-63 defeat.

The close margins are nothing new for the Crusaders, as six of Valpo's first nine League games have been decided by six points or fewer.

Sophomore guard Samuel Haanpää led Valpo with 15 points---all on three-pointers---against UIC. It was the 16th time in his career Haanpää has made at least four treys in a game. He also moved into Valpo's all-time top-ten list with 128 in his career. Haanpää has 53 treys this year, shooting 45 percent from behind the arc.

The Crusaders held UIC to 16 second-half points on 17 percent (six-of-35) shooting after the break. Valpo did not allow a field goal for the first 7:27 of the second half, rallying from a double-digit deficit. Valpo trailed 40-30 before senior guard Jarryd Loyd's halfcourt buzzer-beater at the halftime horn.

Valpo also trailed Loyola by 13 points to take the lead before the Ramblers' late heroics. The Crusaders have come back from a double-digit deficit to tie or take the lead in five separate games this season.

Valpo takes a nine-day break before its next action, when the Crusaders host Butler before a national (ESPN2) audience on Tuesday, Feb. 5.

Raiders return home after 3-0 road swing
Wright State moved to 12-6 overall and 5-4 in the League after a 66-57 victory at Detroit on Saturday. WSU is 6-3 away from home, including three consecutive victories on the road.

The Raiders, whose previous three games had been decided by a total of four points, trailed 55-54 with 4:30 to play before closing the game on a 12-2 scoring run. Wright State is 10-4 in games decided by nine points or fewer.

Wright State held Detroit to 37 percent shooting from the field, marking the fourth time in the last six games a Raider opponent has finished below 40 percent. The Raiders rank second in the League in scoring defense---allowing only 63.9 points per game.

Sophomore guard Todd Brown led the way with 18 points, with senior forwards Scottie Wilson and Jordan Pleiman adding 14 and 13, respectively.

Brown ranks eighth in the League in scoring with an average of 15 points per game, two spots ahead of sophomore guard Vaughn Duggins (14.7). Pleiman leads the League in field-goal percentage (.617), with Wilson third at 53.4 percent.

The Raiders play their next three games at home, beginning Thursday against Green Bay. WSU hosts Milwaukee on Saturday before stepping outside the League to face Presbyterian on Monday.

Phoenix defends home floor
Green Bay improved to 11-8 overall and 5-4 in League play, allowing a rate of only 54 points in two victories. The Phoenix ended Cleveland State's six-game winning streak with a 59-50 verdict on Thursday, and defeated Youngstown State 66-58 on Saturday.

Junior forward Terry Evans led the way with a career-high 16 points Thursday, adding eight rebounds. Junior forward Mike Schachtner managed only five points, but collected a collegiate-high ten boards. Schachtner is third in the League in scoring (17.2 points per game), with Evans eighth on the loop rebounding charts at 6.5 caroms per contest.

The Phoenix has held three consecutive opponents under 40 percent shooting from the field, including Cleveland State's 28.3 percent showing. Each of Green Bay's last six games has been decided by nine points or fewer.

Green Bay rallied from halftime deficits in both games last week. The Phoenix had been 0-7 when trailing at the break, before outscoring Cleveland State 40-26 in the final 20 minutes. Green Bay canned 20 of 26 free throws in the game and ranks fifth in the nation with a .775 mark at the charity stripe.

Green Bay hits the road for five of its next seven games, beginning Thursday at Wright State. The Phoenix also has a Saturday matinee at Detroit on this week's agenda.

Flames drop a pair on the road
UIC slipped to 10-10 overall and 4-5 in the League, falling 60-56 at Valparaiso on Thursday and 73-57 at Butler on Saturday. The Flames are 2-9 away from the Pavilion this season.

Junior center Scott VanderMeer posted nine points and a career-high 21 rebounds Thursday, becoming the fourth player ever to collect 20 boards in an MCC/Horizon League contest. VanderMeer leads the circuit at 7.5 rebounds per game for the season.

VanderMeer became UIC's career leader in blocked shots, rejecting three attempts at Valpo. His 166 blocks in two years eclipsed the previous mark of 164, held by Sherell Ford (1992-95).

Junior guard Josh Mayo leads the nation in three-point accuracy, hitting 53.4 percent of his shots behind the arc. Mayo's 62 treys are tied for the League lead in that category, and he ranks second in the League in scoring at 17.8 points per game. Mayo has reached double figures in 19 of UIC's 20 games this season, and needs two points for 1,000 in his career.

Sophomore guard Spencer Stewart returned to the line-up Thursday after missing six games with a broken bone in his left hand. He leads the team at 4.14 assists per game.

UIC returns to the Pavilion this week, putting an 8-1 home-court mark on the line Thursday against Cleveland State and Saturday versus Youngstown State.

Penguins fall short on Wisconsin trip
Youngstown State saw its losing streak hit four games with two losses last week. The Penguins stand at 7-13 overall and 3-7 in the League following Thursday's 76-69 defeat at Milwaukee and a 66-58 setback at Green Bay on Saturday.

Freshman guard Vytas Sulskis averaged 17.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in the two games, canning four three-pointers during the trip. Sulskis has set a YSU freshman record with 32 treys this season, one more than the previous standard of 31, set by Mike Alcorn in 1990-91.

Senior forward Mike Barber logged his third double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds at Milwaukee. It was the 16th time this year that Barber has hit double figures in scoring; he had reached twin figures 23 times in 90 career outings before this season. Barber averages 13.5 points per game and is second in the League at seven rebounds per contest.

Senior guard Byron Davis has scored in double figures in six consecutive games, including Thursday's 22-point effort at Milwaukee---his fourth game of 20 or more this season. Davis ranks seventh in the League at 15.1 points per game for the season.

YSU heads to Chicago for two games this week, visiting Loyola on Thursday and UIC on Saturday. The Penguins have never swept the season series from either team, but could accomplish the feat with victories this week.

Ramblers gain split on historic shot
Loyola begins the week at 7-13 overall and 3-7 in League play after splitting two games last week. The Ramblers fell 63-50 at Butler on Thursday before rallying to claim a 65-63 victory at Valparaiso on Saturday.

Junior guard J.R. Blount provided the difference at Valpo, canning a jumper with four seconds remaining. Blount finished with 19 points in the game and became the 37th player in school history to reach the 1,000-point mark in his career. Blount, who is fourth in the League at 15.9 points per game, is the fourth League player to hit four figures in 2007-08. He joins Green Bay's Mike Schachtner (1,138), Detroit's Jon Goode (1,096), and Cleveland State's J'Nathan Bullock (1,021). Butler's A.J. Graves leads all active players with 1,627 career points.

Blount has hit 12 three-pointers in his last five games after logging only nine treys in the first 15 outings of the season.

Junior forward Leon Young missed both games due to illness. Young ranks second on the team in scoring (12.1 points per game) and rebounding (6.3 per contest) but has missed six of Loyola's last nine games. Sophomore forward Andy Polka provided 13 points and ten rebounds at Butler. He is seventh in the League at 6.6 boards per appearance for the season.

The Ramblers host Youngstown State on Thursday and Cleveland State on Saturday.

Titans' streak hits unlucky 13
Detroit has lost 13 consecutive games, dropping to 4-15 overall with a 66-57 loss to Wright State on Saturday. The Titans led 55-54 with 4:30 to play, but a 12-2 run by WSU kept Detroit winless in nine League contests this season.

The Titans' current 13-game skid is one short of the school record for a single season. Detroit opened the 1987-88 campaign with 14 consecutive defeats. That run is also part of an overall 15-game slide, including the 1986-87 finale.

Junior forward Chris Hayes led UDM back from a 14-point deficit, finishing with 16 points and six rebounds. Hayes ranks sixth on the League rebounding charts at 6.6 per contest.

Senior guard Jon Goode paced the Titans with 17 points for his 13th consecutive double-figure output. Goode leads the League in scoring at 19.5 points per game overall this season, including a 22.8 per-game mark in League play. Goode has scored more than 38.2 percent of his team's points against League competition in 2007-08.

Junior forward Michael Harrington posted a career-high three blocked shots Saturday, his fourth consecutive game with at least two rejections. Harrington had only three blocks in the Titans' first 15 games.

Detroit continues a homestand this week, with Milwaukee coming to town on Thursday and Green Bay visiting Calihan Hall on Saturday.

Games become more important as Horizon League Championship approaches
The second half of the League schedule starts this week as ten teams battle for position in the (March 4-11) Horizon League Men's Basketball Championship. Four teams open the week within one game of each other, placing added importance on every game for the rest of the regular season.

Detroit tries to end a 13-game overall losing streak Thursday when Milwaukee comes to Calihan Hall for one of four games on the day's schedule. Milwaukee, currently in third place in the League standings, edged Detroit, 55-53 in Milwaukee on Jan. 5. Other contests feature Green Bay at Wright State---looking to sweep the season series after the Phoenix defeated WSU, 52-49, earlier this month---Cleveland State at UIC in a rematch of the Vikings' 63-55 victory in Cleveland, and Youngstown State at Loyola as the Penguins try to duplicate their 71-61 triumph in Youngstown.

Travel partners flip opponents on Saturday, with Cleveland State facing Loyola and Youngstown State at UIC. Also, Milwaukee visits Wright State with Green Bay at Detroit to round out the day's action. The first round of those matchups saw CSU defeat Loyola, 63-55, at home, YSU knock off UIC, 65-63, Milwaukee get past Wright State, 75-64, and Green Bay post a 78-52 victory over Detroit.

Butler and Valparaiso are idle until Feb. 5, when they square off at Valpo's Athletics-Recreation Center before a national (ESPN2) audience.

Seven teams own winning records as the season nears the midway point. The last time the Horizon League boasted six teams above .500 was in 2001-02 (Butler 26-6, Detroit 18-13, Wright State 17-11, Milwaukee 16-13, Loyola 17-13, UIC 20-14).