CLEVELAND (AP) -Norris Cole scored 22 points and Cleveland State defeated Valparaiso 80-71 on Thursday night.
Trevon Harmon added 17 points and Jeremy Montgomery had 15 for the Vikings (13-12, 9-4 Horizon League), who won their sixth game in a row. The win avenged a 78-71 loss to Valparaiso on Jan. 16.
The Vikings are 6-1 against Valparaiso since the Crusaders joined the Horizon League three seasons ago.
Leading 34-30 at halftime, the Vikings broke open the game with a 12-2 run to start the second half. D'Aundray Brown capped the run on a layup with 14:44 remaining to give the Vikings a 46-32 lead. Cleveland State built its largest lead at 57-39 on a basket by Cole with 9 minutes remaining.
The Crusaders (13-14, 8-7), who had won seven of their previous nine games, were led by Brandon McPherson with 17 points. Brandon Wood added 14 points and Michael Rogers had 12.
