Five Grizzlies score in double figures as Butler picks up 15th win of the season
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Butler
|
37 | 49 | 86 |
|
Neosho County
|
35 | 33 | 68 |
Team Stats
Neosho County
| Game Statistics | Butler | Neosho County |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (33-66) | (20-57) |
| Field Goal % | 50.0% | 35.1% |
| Rebounds | 41 | 29 |
| Assists | 11 | 10 |
| Turnovers | 10 | 10 |
For the second straight game, Shawn Hopkins led the Grizzlies to an 86-68 win on the road in Chanute and Butler improved to 15-4, 13-4 on the season.
It was a tight first half as Butler couldn't put together consecutive scores allowing the Panthers to hang around and Butler led by only two, 37-35 at the half.
The Grizzlies came out of the locker room with a little more fire and just out to a double-digit lead. The Panthers kept battling but would never get closer than six after the first part of the second half and the Grizzlies would finish out the final 9:26 of the game on a 26-9 run. Butler held on to win 86-68, in a what was a tighter game than the final score reflected.
Shawn Hopkins led Butler for the second straight game scoring a team high 22 points and five rebounds. Noah Thomasson scored 17 points and had five assists and five rebounds. Treylon Payne found some confidence on the offensive end of the ball as he hit three shots from behind the arc and finished the night with 15 points. DeeJuan Pruitt posted his fifth straight double-double scoring 14 points and pulling down 15 rebounds. Donyae McCaskill added 10 points in his 22 minutes played.
Butler got their mojo back on offense as they shot 54% from the floor and 35% from deep. They limited their turnovers to only 10, for the second consecutive game.
"We guarded them well tonight and challenged shots," said head coach Kyle Fisher who picked up his 40th win as head coach of the Grizzlies. "Our defense has carried us through some tough offensive nights that last few weeks, and we are really going to need our defense in the weeks coming up as we get into postseason."
NEXT UP: Butler (15-4, 13-4) will host Allen (6-14, 5-13) on Saturday, March 27 at 7:30pm in the Power Plant in El Dorado. The Grizzlies will host their final regular season home game on Monday, March 29th when the Cowley Tigers come to town for a 7:30pm tip.
NOTES: Head coach Kyle Fisher picks up 40th win as Butler head coach…Pruitt records fifth straight double-double and seventh of the season…Hopkins has four games of 20+ points…Grizzlies are 10-1 against the Panthers since 2016-17 and have won the last six.