Jan. 22, 2012

Box Score

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cleveland State shot 63.5 percent from the field and led from start to finish in claiming an 83-57 win over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Sunday afternoon at the Wolstein Center.

Milwaukee looked like it might have survived an opening burst from Cleveland State (17-4, 7-2 Horizon), cutting a 13-point deficit down to eight at the half. But a 13-0 run by the Vikings early in the second half restored control for CSU.

James Haarsma had 15 points to lead the Panthers (13-8, 6-3), who shot just 35 percent from the field and had 15 turnovers.

Six players reached double figures for Cleveland State, with Trevon Harmon's 15 points leading the way.

The win pushed the Vikings into a first-place tie with Valparaiso, while UWM, Butler and Youngstown State are all in a third-place tie just one game back.

"They really got off to a great start," UWM head coach Rob Jeter said. "I thought we did enough to get ourselves back in the game and give ourselves a chance with their hot shooting. In the second half we were just flat and couldn't get anything going. As much as we tried, it just wasn't working on both ends of the floor."

The early run by Cleveland State put the Vikings ahead by double digits within the first eight minutes. In fact, CSU would up scoring 26 of its 36 first-half points within the first 10 minutes of the game.

UWM's best chance to make a game of it came late in the first half. The Panthers trimmed a 30-17 deficit to 34-25 on a layup by Demetrius Harris and then got within 36-28 on a three-pointer by Kaylon Williams with just over a minute to play. Milwaukee almost got closer just before the halftime horn, but another three by Williams rolled in and out.

The Panthers were still within 38-30 after the teams traded baskets to start the second half, but the Vikings scored the next 13 points to retake control of the contest.

Harris did get some of his most extensive playing time of the season, scoring seven points in 11 minutes. Williams and Paris Gulley also added nine points apiece, with Williams also contributing seven rebounds.

UWM now heads back home for its next three games, starting with a Thursday night contest against Butler. The game tips off at 7 p.m. CST and the U.S. Cellular Arena.