Grizzlies Come Up Short on the Road at Cloud

CONCORDIA, Kan. – Butler men's basketball dropped a tough road contest to the Cloud County T-Birds, 81-67, at Arley Bryant Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.

The Grizzlies (22-7, 17-6) lost their second straight game this year and second straight in Concordia to Cloud (20-9, 15-8), who picked up their 20th win of the season.

Butler picked up a 15-8 lead with 13:30 to play in the first half before Cloud retook the lead at 26-20. Cloud did not trail over the final 30 minutes of the game.

The T-Birds knocked down 12 threes, shooting 44.4% (12-27) from deep. They also outrebounded the Grizzlies 35-21 which led to 14 second chance points compared to Butler's two.

Four of Cloud's starters scored in double figures with Ja'Ron Briggs Jr. leading all scorers with 23 points to go with nine rebounds. Charles McClennahan Jr. had 17 points and four rebounds to lead Butler. Jaquez Thornton added 12 points, nine assists and five rebounds while Deuce Drake added 12 points.

Butler gets back to play on Wednesday, hosting nationally ranked Cowley at the Power Plant with a 7:30 p.m. tip.