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Butler faces Cleveland State in key Horizon League showdown

Jan 17, 2008 - 2:36 PM No. 12 Butler (16-1) at Cleveland St (12-5) 7:30 pm EST

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- No. 12 Butler has the national ranking, but Cleveland State will go into Thursday's showdown in first place in the Horizon League.

The Vikings (12-5, 5-0 Horizon) already have surpassed their league and overall win totals from last season. They are 5-0 in league play for the first time since 1992-93.

Butler (16-1, 5-1) enters this contest in the midst of an eight-game winning streak.

Senior guard Mike Green averages 15.4 points and 5.8 rebounds for Butler. Senior guard A.J. Graves averages 14.6 points and freshman forward 13.1 for the Bulldogs, who have won the last four games against Cleveland State and lead the all-time series, 21-5.

Junior guard Cedric Jackson averages 14.6 points and 5.1 rebounds for the Vikings, who are off to their best start in 15 years. Junior forward J'Nathan Bullock averages 14.4 points and 6.0 rebounds.

Butler, 13-2 against Cleveland State in the last 15 meetings, set a league record with 20 3-pointers in a 92-50 road victory last season against the Vikings.