Indianapolis, IN -- (Sports Network) - The bubble just got a little smaller, as Cleveland State finally got the better of a close game with its Horizon League nemesis, slipping past No. 16 Butler, 57-54, in the league tournament title game with an automatic bid to the victor.

That winner, Cleveland State (25-10), lost a pair of two-point contests to Butler during the regular season, but got the better of the Bulldogs (26-5) on their home floor. The Vikings are headed to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1986.

The close quarters and rabid fans didn't faze the swarming Vikings defense, which held the normally efficient Bulldogs to a 4-of-19 effort from long distance, a story with a final chapter written in the final frantic seconds.

Shelvin Mack, who led Butler with 18 points, and Gordon Hayward each had decent looks at game-tying threes in the final seconds, but both bounced off the rim and a final look at a corner triple never materialized before the buzzer sounded, kicking off a jubilant celebration for the visitors and head coach Gary Waters with his arms pointed toward the sky.

Cedric Jackson scored 19 points for the Vikings to go along with eight assists and seven rebounds, while Jeremy Montgomery added 11 and J'Nathan Bullock 10. The Vikings were not under consideration for an at-large selection, so their victory knocked one bubble team off the ledge considering the Bulldogs, despite the loss, will be part of the tournament field.

Cleveland State made 10-of-19 from three-point range, but the downfall almost came at the foul line, where it went only 5-of-12.

Butler took a 32-28 edge into the locker room and opened a 39-31 advantage on Matt Howard's slam not even two minutes into the second 20 minutes of game action. Back-to-back threes from Montgomery and Bullock cut the deficit to 39-37 and Bullock's jumper tied the contest almost 5 1/2 minutes in.

Montgomery's triple moments later put the Vikings in front 47-45, and after Butler again slipped in front by one, another Cleveland State three -- this one by Jackson -- gave the visitors a 50-48 edge with less than 10 minutes on the clock.

George Tandy's pull-up jumper with 6:50 to go put the Vikings up six points, 54-48, but Butler eventually pulled within 56-54 on 1-of-2 foul shots from Howard, who finished with 14 points on the contest.

That score stayed the same into the final seconds, as Norris Cole intercepted a baseline pass and made 1-of-2 foul shots for the 57-54 edge. Moments earlier, the Vikings failed to capitalize on the front end of a 1-and-1.

The Bulldogs had one final chance to tie the game, but Mack misfired from the high left elbow and Hayward missed from the opposite wing after corralling the long rebound and dribbling out beyond the arc.

Game Notes:

Butler shot 16-of-23 from the charity stripe...Bullock grabbed five rebounds in the victory...The Bulldogs mustered 20 points in the paint...Butler was going for its second straight Horizon League tournament title.