GAME NOTES: The Cleveland State Vikings continue their four-game road trip tonight, as they square off against the Illinois-Chicago Flames in Horizon League play. After opening up HL play with seven consecutive victories, the Vikings have hit a rough patch on their current road swing. The team opened the trip up with a 59-50 setback at UW-Green Bay a week ago before falling at UW-Milwaukee, 79-71, on Saturday. Now at 14-7 overall, CSU is set to play its third game of the road trip before closing it out at Loyola-Chicago on Saturday. As for UIC, it also enter the tilt on a down note, falling at nationally-ranked Butler, 73-57, on Saturday. It was the second straight loss by the Flames, who dipped to 10-10 overall and 4-5 in conference play. The team, however, now returns back home, where it has gone 8-1 thus far. UIC owns a 31-29 edge in the all-time series with CSU, but the Vikings won the earlier meeting this season, 68-51.

The Vikings made just 2-of-14 long-range attempts and they were outscored at the foul line, 29-13, in a loss at UW-Milwaukee over the weekend. The team also lost the battle on the boards, 43-34, and that includes a 15-10 difference on the offensive glass. Cedric Jackson scored 16 points and snared 11 caroms to pace CSU, while J'Nathan Bullock chipped in with 10 points. For the season, Jackson has nearly done it all for the Vikings, leading them in scoring (15.0 ppg), assists (4.7 apg) and steals (55). Bullock has provided a nice complement to him, as he turns in 13.6 ppg and a team-best 6.3 rpg. As a whole, CSU is netting 69.8 ppg this season, in addition to outrebounding its foes by 4.0 rpg.

The Flames turned the ball over just 12 times on Saturday, but those miscues proved to be costly, as Butler scored 19 points off them in a 73-57 decision. UIC was also outscored in the paint, 32-18, in the losing cause. Josh Mayo guided the team in defeat with 19 points and three assists, while Scott VanderMeer logged 12 points and seven rebounds. For the season, Mayo has carried the Flames at times and he leads the squad in scoring (17.8 ppg) and steals (25). He is also handing out 3.7 apg, while shooting a blistering 53.4 percent from long distance. As a team, UIC is making good on 42.4 percent of its tries from downtown, helping it to average 70.3 ppg.

UIC has really played well at home this season and if Mayo can get any help, expect the Flames to add to CSU's recent struggles.