Pics/Vids: Game 5 - Butler vs. Cleveland State

Friday, January 13th
Hinkle Fieldhouse, Butler University
Cleveland State 76, Butler 69

Game 4 - Indiana vs. Minnesota
Game 3 - Xavier vs. Duquesne
Game 2 - Kentucky vs. South Carolina
Game 1 - Belmont vs. Lipscomb

(Not everyone was spending their Friday night inside the Hinkle Fieldhouse watching hoops)

(The trophy case honoring Butler's back-to-back National Championship game appearances.)

(The view from above of the legendary Hinkle Fieldhouse, where the classic basketball movie "Hoosiers" was filmed.)

(The scene at Hinkle Fieldhouse before pregame warm-ups.)

(This guy is way too old to be in college, let alone playing in the band.)

(The Butler ball-boy takes some jumpers before the game. A "future Matt Howard".)

(Members of the Dawg Pound support the cause #BIAHroadtrip.)

(The Bulldogs go through pregame shootaround.)

(The Bulldogs get some shots off during pregame warm-ups.)

(Cheerleaders practice their stunts before the pregame warm-ups.)

(The Bulldogs, including Ronald Nored go through pregame warm-ups.)

(The Butler band belts out some of the classics.)

(The Bulldogs go through pregame stretches and layup lines.)

(The Bulldogs enter the arena for lay-up lines.)

(The scene right before the National Anthem.)

(The Bulldogs get ready for pregame introductions.)

(The Cleveland State Vikings prepare for player introductions.)

(Butler Blue II, the self-proclaimed "most media savvy bulldog mascot in the country". As Rob would say "That's a good lookin' pup".)

(The Dawg Pound cheers on their team during a loose ball.)

(A huge block for Butler, but a turnover at the other end leads to a transition bucket for the vikings.)

(One of the many Butler free-throw attempts on the night. The Bulldogs shot a dreadful 52% (25-42) from the charity stripe.)

(An inflatable kangaroo is always a solid choice for free throw distraction gear.)

(Andrew Smith makes a foul shot and the Dawg Pound cheers him on.)

(Chase Stigall guards Jeremy Montgomery at the top of the key early in the first half.)

(The Vikings huddle up to plan their early game run. By the first TV-timeout, Cleveland State led 18-4.)

(Andrew Smith goes up strong to the basket after a missed foul shot.)

(Butler center Andrew Smith hits a 3-pointer at the end of the first half.)

("Hink" and the cheerleaders entertain the fans during a TV-timeout.)

(Jeremy Montgomery attempts a free throw.)

(CSU guard Jeremy Montgomery had a huge second half for the Vikings. He scored 16 of his game-high 18 points in the second stanza. Oh yeah, he also has one of the best beards in the country.)

(Ronald Nored takes two foul shots after CSU head coach Gary Waters was assessed a technical foul. Water's told reporters in the press conference that "he did what he had to do." He had to let the officials know that things were getting out of hand. This was only his second technical foul in his entire career.)

("Hink" stares down the opposition.)

(Andrew Smith attempts another foul shot in the second half. The Bulldogs took 42 FT-attempts while the Vikings took just 24.)

(Another big block by the Bulldogs.)

(The view of Hinkle Fieldhouse from the last seat in the house.)

(Ronald Nored snaps some photos with pint-sized fans after the tough loss. You won't find many players in the country as polite, knowledgeable and intelligent as Nored.)

(This made my entire night. I spent the entire Final Four in Houston trying to track him down to no avail, and spent most of this game doing the same. But luckily I ran into right before he was headed home for the night.)