Butler edges Cleveland State, wins Horizon League title

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

02/28/2009 - Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Willie Veasley scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds, and the 24th-ranked Butler Bulldogs secured their third consecutive regular season Horizon League title with a 58-56 victory over the Cleveland State Vikings.

Matt Howard added 12 points for the Bulldogs (25-4, 15-3 HL), who have secured the top seed in the Horizon League tournament, meaning Butler will advance to the semifinals next Saturday and will have home-court advantage throughout. Ronald Nored contributed 11 points in the victory.

Norris Cole tallied a game-high 17 points for the Vikings (21-10, 12-6), who had won eight straight conference games. J'Nathan Bullock provided 13 points and eight rebounds, while Cedric Jackson had 11 points in the loss.

Down by six at halftime, Cleveland State made it a four-point contest several times in the early portion of the second half, but six straight points from Butler made it 48-38 with 11:44 to play.

The Vikings went almost six minutes without a field goal before three consecutive three-pointers -- two from Jackson and one from Bullock -- brought the visitors to within 50-49 with 7 1/2 minutes left.

After Veasley missed a pair of free throws and a three-point attempt, Cleveland State took its first lead of the second half on Trevon Harmon's layup two minutes later.

Jackson capped the 12-0 run with a free throw, but Gordon Hayward's dunk for Butler promptly tied the game at 52.

George Tandy hit a layup with just over two minutes left to put the Vikings ahead by a pair, and Hayward connected on only 1-of-2 from the line with 1:40 left for Butler, making it a 56-55 game.

After a Bulldogs steal on the ensuing possession, Veasley missed a three-point attempt, but Nored was right there for an offensive rebound and layup, giving the hosts a 57-56 edge with 53 seconds to go.

Bullock was off on a baseline jumper at the other end, and Nored made only 1- of-2 from the line with 16.7 seconds left to give Butler a two-point lead.

Cole tried to win the game for the Vikings, but his three-point attempt drew only air, and Butler held on in the final seconds for the regular season conference championship.

Butler scored the first five points of the contest, but a 9-0 Cleveland State run put the Vikings ahead, 17-12, six minutes into the game. Jackson led the burst with four points.

The Bulldogs answered with a 13-2 spurt, with Veasley contributing four points. Howard's layup with almost 10 minutes left put the hosts ahead by five. Butler extended its lead to 11, 36-25, on the heels of a 9-0 run and held a 38-32 advantage at halftime.

Game Notes

Butler is an impressive 14-1 at home, with its only loss coming to Loyola- Illinois on February 15...Cleveland State is 7-8 on the road...The Bulldogs swept the season series, 2-0 and leads the all-time series with the Vikings, 25-6...Butler shot 56.1 percent from the field, while Cleveland State shot 40.4 percent...Hayward finished with nine points and six rebounds, while Shelvin Mack had eight points and eight rebounds for Butler.

Onlinevasino NCAA Basketball Betting News

<< Hoyas hold off 'Nova, keep faint NCAA hopes alive
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - DaJuan Summers scored 16 points and Chris Wright added 13 with a pair of clutch free throws in the final seconds, as Georgetown kept its flickering NCAA Tournament hopes alive with a 56-54 victory

<< Hansbrough sets free throw record as UNC crushes Georgia Tech
Chapel Hill, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tyler Hansbrough finished with 28 points and 10 rebounds, and set an NCAA record for made free throws, as fourth-ranked North Carolina dominated Georgia Tech, 104-74. Hansbrough, who entered the contest

<< Chiefs acquire Cassel and Vrabel from Pats
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kansas City and New England finalized a major trade on Saturday, a deal that will send quarterback Matt Cassel and linebacker Mike Vrabel to the Chiefs in exchange for a second-round draft pick.

<< Ogilvy among the semifinalists at WGC
Marana, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Geoff Ogilvy, the 2006 winner, handled teenager Rory McIlroy, 2&1, Saturday to advance to the semifinals of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. Ogilvy will meet last year's second-place finisher,

<< San Fracisco 49ers
Signed wide receiver Brandon Jones.

Broncos make it official with Pro Bowl safety Dawkins >>
Englewood, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Denver Broncos made it official Saturday and signed safety Brian Dawkins to an undisclosed contract. The Broncos Web site said the former Philadelphia Eagle will be introduced at a Saturday afternoon pr

Cubs sign Koskie to minor league deal >>
Mesa, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Cubs have agreed to terms on a minor league contract with infielder Corey Koskie, the club announced Saturday. Koskie will join the Cubs after he finishes playing for Team Canada i

Speed wins pole in his Nationwide debut >>
Las Vegas, NV (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Scott Speed captured his first career Nationwide pole in his first start Saturday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Speed, the former Formula One driver-turned-rookie in the Sprint Cup Series this year

Saints give Stinchcomb five-year contract >>
Metairie, LA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New Orleans Saints agreed to terms with offensive tackle Jon Stinchcomb on a five-year contract Saturday. "Jon has been a real good player for us since cracking the starting lineup in 2006," said tea

Memphis runs win streak to 20 with rout of Southern Miss >>
Memphis, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Robert Dozier finished with 18 points and seven rebounds, as fifth-ranked Memphis downed Southern Miss, 58-42, to extended its nation's-best winning streak to 20 games. Tyreke Evans added 14 points and six b

Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

Bet on NFL

Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

Bet on NFL

Mysportsbook.com online online sportsbook accepts Visa & Mastercard

MySportsbook.com is operated by Sportingbet, a UK gambling company which is publicly traded on the AIM on the London Stock Exchange.

Sportingbet easily forms the world's largest Internet gaming company, with a truly global outreach. This also provides added transparency and accountability to this online Sportsbook and thus provides more safety and security for our customers. MySportsbook offers betting lines on all major sporting events. Our staff of almost 400 people includes clerks ready 365 days a year, 24 hours a day to care for your needs.

MySportsbook's competent, experienced managerial staff and personnel are backed by a state-of-the art sports wagering software.

We offer a 15% sign-up bonus to new customers who use Neteller for deposit and 10% bonus for all other deposit methods. Casino clients can take advantage of a 5% cash back monthly. Clients are also eligible for a 5% re-up bonus on subsequent deposits and 10% cash back on NFL losses.* Our instant-play flash casino is no-download, just click and go to a wide range of games including online Blackjack, 3-Card Poker, Craps, Baccarat, Roulette and Pai-Gow Poker, as well as a variety of slots and video poker games for the complete online casino Las Vegas experience.

My Sports book accepts all credit cards, online checks, Neteller, Firepay and bank wires. MySportsbook guarantees prompt, hassle-free payouts, as well as unparalleled individual attention from its acclaimed customer service department.

To visit this sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Visa needs.