The Cleveland St. Vikings(26-7) basketball team is halfway to a birth in the NCAA Tournament after beating the Wright St. Raiders(19-14) in the 2nd Round of the Horizon League Tournament 73-59. Jeremy Montgomery scored 16 points to lead a balanced scoring attack for the Vikings. Norris Cole scored 15 points to go with 6 rebounds while Trevon Harmon added 14 points in the win.
Wright St. was led by Vaughn Duggins' 12 points while Troy Tabler added 12 points and rebounds.
Cleveland St. jumped out early on the Raiders, taking a 16-6 lead midway through the first half. Wright St. battled back to within 2 - 20-18 - with 6 minutes to go in the half, but the Vikings maintained the lead, extending the lead to 31-27 at halftime.
Wright St. kept the game close through much of the 2nd half, trailing by two points multiple times - 31-29, 41-39 and 44-42 until the Vikings used a 18-5 run to take a 62-47 lead with 6 minutes to go in the game. Cleveland St. was able to hold on the rest of the way.
Cleveland St. shot 47.5% from the field, including 9-19 from three point range while holding Wright St. to just 36%. The Vikings out-rebounded the Raiders 29-22 in the game as well.
CSU will take on the #2 seed Butler Bulldogs tomorrow with the winner playing in the Championship game on Tuesday night.