Cleveland State senior guard Norris Cole battled the flu this week.

Then went out on Saturday and did his best Michael Jordan impersonation against Youngstown State.

In a game reminiscent of Michael Jordan's infamous performance in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals aka "The Flu Game," the 6’2” Cole finished with 41 points, 20 rebounds and nine assists, leading the Vikings past the Penguins, 86-76, in front of 3, 875 fans at the Wolstein Center.

The only other player in the past 15 years in college basketball to have 40 points and 20 rebounds in a game was Oklahoma's Blake Griffin in 2009.

"I don't really play the stats when I'm out there playing," said Cole, whose previous career-high was 38 points against Florida A & M last season. "After the game, I heard I needed one more (assist for the triple-double). It would have been nice to get it, but I'll take the win any day."

It was the third most points scored in a game by a CSU player and the most since Damon Stringer's 47 against Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2000.

Cole set new career-highs in points (41) and rebounds (20). His remarkable performance included having a double-double in each half.

He went 11-of-22 from the field, 14-of-17 from the line and 5-of-10 from the 3-point line.

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There is one thing Cleveland State coach Gary Waters found out about his team after watching the game films of last week's losses to Butler and Detroit.

"They don't know how to play in a tight games yet," said Waters. "Our average margin of victory is 12 points. We got to learn how to play (in tight games) and get over the hump."

With 26 games played so far this season, CSU (21-5, 10-4 Horizon League) have only played in five games that were six points or less. They are 3-2 in those games.

Last Saturday against Butler, CSU pulled within 51-49 with 10:03 remaining on a pair of free throws from Jeremy Montgomery. The Bulldogs went on a 12-4 run over the next 5:15 to open up a 63-53 lead with 4:48 left and take control of the contest.

On Monday, CSU lost a nail-bitter to Detroit, 81-78. CSU collapsed in the final five minutes turning the ball over twice, missing three lay-ups and allowing three offensive rebounds to Eli Holman.

"It's a wake-up call," said Waters. "Our kids need to be in more situations in order for us to excel in those situations.

"I honesty believe (losing to Butler and Detroit) will help us in the long run."

CSU host double-header on Saturday: The CSU men's and women's basketball teams will host a double-header on Saturday at the Wolstein Center.

The men will host Youngstown State (8-16, 2-12) at 2 p.m and the women (13-10, 6-6) will host Butler (15-9, 9-3) at 4 p.m.

SportsTime Ohio will televise the men's game live as part of the Horizon League's TV Game of the Week package.

The CSU men are in second-place in the Horizon League, a half-game behind Valparaiso (10-3 HL). They are a half-game ahead of third-place Wright State (10-5) and a game ahead of Butler and UW-Milwaukee, who are both 9-5 in league play.

In the men's tournament the top two seeds get a bye into the semifinals.

The CSU women are tied with UW-Milwaukee for fourth-place in the Horizon League, just 1 1/2 games behind third-place Wright State (7-4 HL).

In the women's tournament the top four seeds get a bye into the quarterfinals.

Waters on YSU: "Their a good offensive team and if you let them run their offense and they hit some shots they're in the game. They play zone to keep you at bay," said Waters.

The Penguins are 0-11 on the road this season.

Waters on scheduling: Waters does not like how the Horizon League schedules its games with travel partners on Thursday and Saturday.

"I think this league should play on Wednesday and Saturday," he said. "That means we have to go back to Chicago, have to go back to Wisconsin and have to go back to those other places.

"What (CSU athletic director) John (Parry) figured out it is not that much more money wise and you don't miss much more school."

the bench: CSU's bench is 9-0 when outscoring their counterparts this season, but in CSU's five losses the bench has been outscored, 108-20.

"There will be some games when they help us and there will be some games that will be struggles," said Waters.

CSU in polls: CSU received a vote in the Associated Press poll, receiving a 25th-place vote from Matt McCoy of WTVN-AM in Columbus.

In the Mid-Major poll, CSU dropped down to No. 6.

Pink Zone game: The CSU women will host its third annual WBCA Pink Zone game on Saturday against Butler. CSU will wear pink uniforms that will be auctioned off after the game to raise money for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.

"That kind of stuff is really fun," said CSU women's coach Kate Peterson Abiad. "We will honor some (breast cancer) survivors for the game. It's nice to have a game like this."

News and notes: CSU will induct Bill Clarke (men's soccer coach, 1967-71); Keith Lillash (baseball, 1998-2001); Henk Markgraaff (men's swimming, 1996-2000); and Audra Cook (women's basketball, 1997-2000) into the CSU Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday following the women's basketball game. In addition, Judge Bob Malaga, who has been active in CSU athletics for over 25 years, will receive an honorary achievement award from the CSU Varsity "C" Club.... On Saturday, Norris Cole will will break J'Nathan Bullock's (2005-09) school records for career games played and consecutive games played, both are tied at 130.... The CSU men and women's basketball teams are 26-6 in 16 doubleheaders since the 2007-08 season.... Season tickets for CSU's 2011-12 season are now on sale. For more information call the Wolstein Center box office at 216-687-4848.

What a difference a week makes.

A week ago, Cleveland State controlled its own destiny for the No. 1 seed and homefield advantage in next month's Horizon League tournament.

The Vikings held a 1 1/2 game lead on Valparaiso after CSU defeated the Crusaders (76-65) last Thursday at the Wolstein Center.

But things quickly changed. CSU (21-5, 10-4 Horizon League) lost back-to-back games at home to Butler (73-61) on Saturday and at Detroit (81-78) on Monday.

Heading into Saturday's Horizon League games first-place Valparaiso (10-3 Horizon League) leads CSU by a 1/2 game and Wright State (10-5) by a game. Butler and Milwaukee, both 9-5, are 1 1/2 games back.

"We blew it," CSU coach Gary Waters said at his weekly media gathering on Wednesday. "Our goal now is to win out and tie for the league. Right now we are playing for second place because if we tie with Valparaiso they have the tie breaker.

"We hold our own fate if we win our final four games we will take at least second place."

According to Waters, Valpo needs to lose two games in order for CSU to win back the No. 1 seed and homefield advantage in next month's tournament.

In the Horizon League the top two seeds get a bye into the semifinals.

CSU has a favorable schedule down the stretch with three of its final four league games are at home, where the Vikings are 13-1 on the season. They have home games remaining against Youngstown State (Saturday), UW-Milwaukee (Feb. 24) and UW-Green Bay (Feb. 26). Their only road game is at WSU on Feb. 16. The Raiders are 12-1 at the Nutter Center this season.

Valpo still has five league games left. They have home games remaining with WSU (Saturday), Loyola (Feb. 24) and Illinois-Chicago (Feb. 26). Their final two road games are at Milwaukee (Feb. 16) and Green Bay (Feb. 21).

Waters says he does not think Valpo will lose another game this season.

WSU has three league games left and have the toughest schedule remaining. They are at Valpo (Saturday) and have home games remaining against CSU and Detroit (Feb. 25).

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CLEVELAND - Butler continued its dominance of Cleveland State on the hardwood. As CSU laid another egg against their hated rivals in front a national television audience on ESPN2.

Despite a sold out crowd of 8,490 at the Wolstein Center on Saturday afternoon, CSU could not hold serve at home as the Bulldogs swept the regular season series against the Vikings, 73-61.

The Bulldogs (15-9, 7-5 Horizon League) have won eight of its past nine meetings with the Vikings (21-4, 10-3). They are 29-7 all-time against CSU. The last time CSU defeated Butler was in March of 2009 during the Horizon League championship game.

With the loss, CSU still remains in first-place, but only a half-game ahead of second-place Valparaiso (9-3 Horizon League), who defeated Youngstown State on Saturday.

"They came in and out played us," said CSU coach Gary Waters. "We had 18 buckets, and if you only score 18 buckets, you're not going to win many games."

Waters took some of the blame for the loss. "I went away from something that I should have never did," he said. "What we do is press and pressure people the whole time. That's what we are going to do. That's who we are.

"We didn't trap for turnovers. That will never happen again. If they can beat us they are going to have to beat us our way."

Waters said one of the reasons why he didn't use the press early in the game was because starters Trevon Harmon and Aaron Pogue were both in foul trouble for most of the game.

Turnovers played a key role in the game. Without CSU playing its aggressive style of play, the Vikings, which are second in the Horizon League in turnover margin, were only able to create six. While Butler created 12, which led to a 15-6 advantage in points off turnovers for the Bulldogs.

"Turnovers are key to winning on the road," said Butler coach Brad Stevens.

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