Men's Basketball Falls to Hutch at Home

EL DORADO, Kan. – Fifth ranked Butler men's basketball took its second consecutive loss on Wednesday evening, falling 73-70 to Hutchinson at the Power Plant.

The Grizzlies (12-3, 7-2 KJCCC) went through another down shooting performance, connecting on just 31.2% of their field goals (24-77) and 21.2% of three-point shots (7-22). The Grizzlies put up 28 more shots (77-49) than the Blue Dragons (10-5, 6-3) in the game.

Butler forced 20 Hutch turnovers compared to just 10 of their own while the rebounding battle was split evenly, 37-37. It marked Butler's second straight loss as they also lost the January opener at home to Coffeyville.

Hutchinson got out to an early 15-8 lead and led throughout the first half until sophomore guard Russell Branch put in a layup at the 5:27 mark to put the Grizzlies ahead 19-18. Hutch immediately answered with a three from Mikhail Abdul-Hamid to make it 21-19 and did not trail again in the half, taking a 35-29 lead to the locker room as Butler transfer, sophomore guard Jaquez Thornton, hit a three to beat the buzzer.

The first three minutes of the second half saw Hutch outscore Butler 10-3 to go ahead 45-32. Sophomore guard Bubba Leavell hit a three for Butler and Branch drained another on the next possession to pull Butler within 45-38. The teams traded buckets but the Grizzlies started to pull closer at the 10 minute mark when freshman guard Devonte Reed made a layup to pull within four at 49-45. Butler pulled within one and two points at multiple points over the final minutes but could not take a lead as Hutchinson ultimately led throughout the entire second half.

A made layup from freshman Josiah Kirkwood made it 71-70 Hutch with nine seconds to play but the Dragons converted two free throws to make it 73-70 and the Grizzlies final possession did not come to fruition.

Branch led Butler with 18 points shooting 6-19 from the field, adding six rebounds. Two reserves off the bench also scored double figures in Devin Kerr who had 13 points and nine rebounds and Kirkwood who finished with 10 points.

Ketraleus "Bo" Aldridge led Hutch with 22 points and 11 rebounds, also adding four assists and three steals. Dimitrius "DJ" Dudley finished with 11 points and Thornton had 11. Bobby Cannon had seven points, six rebounds and four blocks.

The Grizzlies head to Garden City on Saturday, taking on the Broncbusters at Conestoga Arena at 4 p.m.