CLEVELAND (AP) -Jeremy Montgomery scored 17 points and had five assists as Cleveland State withstood a late rally to defeat Illinois-Chicago 70-63 on Saturday.
The Vikings (7-10, 3-2 Horizon League) led 65-49 with 4:01 remaining, but the Flames (5-11, 1-5) used a 14-1 run, including six points by Chris Buchanan, to pull within 66-63 with 51 seconds left.
D'Aundray Brown, who finished with 13 points and seven rebounds, hit two free throws to increase Cleveland State's lead to 68-63. After a missed Illinois-Chicago shot, Montgomery added two free throws for the final margin.
Cleveland State scored the game's first eight points, but Illinois-Chicago built an eight-point lead of its own, 30-22, with 3:16 left until halftime. Two 3-pointers by Jared Cunningham started an 11-1 Cleveland State run to a 33-33 halftime tie.
Jeremy Buttell had 22 points and eight rebounds for the Flames.
