Men’s Basketball Wins Nailbiter at Pratt

PRATT, Kan. – The 14th ranked Butler men's basketball team pulled out an 85-82 win over the Pratt Beavers on Saturday afternoon at the Dennis Lesh Sports Arena.

Butler (15-4, 10-3 KJCCC) did not trail in the first half, turning the ball over just once in the first 20 minutes. Pratt (8-11, 4-9) shot an impressive 55.6% from three in the first half but trailed throughout as the Grizzlies put up 45 points, taking a 45-37 lead into halftime.

Pratt flipped the script in the second half scoring 45 of its own points, outscoring Butler 45-40 in the half. The Beavers snatched their first lead of the game at 75-73 with five minutes to play as Hunter Vaughn connected on a three plus a foul, making the free throw. The teams traded leads over the next four minutes. Pratt took an 80-77 lead with 1:30 remaining but Butler freshman guard Josiah Kirkwood put a floater in on the next possession to cut the Beaver lead to one. Butler then forced a turnover and freshman forward Emeka Opurum was fouled, making both free throws to put the Grizzlies back ahead 81-80.

Pratt's Ajiet Akot hit a jumper with 1:09 to play as the Beavers regained the lead at 82-81 but on the Grizzlies next possession, sophomore guard Kaeson Fisher-Brown was fouled and made both free throws as Butler went back ahead 83-82. The Grizzlies did not trail again as they got a block from Opurum and Kirkwood and Fisher-Brown both made 1-2 free throws down the stretch. Pratt's Parker Whisenhunt missed two free throws with 11 seconds left in the game and Pratt trailing by two.

The Beavers shot 6-10 from distance and 11-14 from the free throw line in the second half helping them to push the Grizzlies later in the game.

A pair of freshmen in Kirkwood and Devin Kerr paced Butler with 16 points each. Kerr pulled down 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the season in his first two rebounds off the bench.  Opurum finished with nine points, two rebounds and four blocks.

Butler was outrebounded 40-33 but forced 16 Pratt turnovers and coughed the ball up a season-low seven times of their own. Butler got 31 points off its bench with six different players contributing.

Pratt had four of its starters score in double figures with Jarrett Dingle's game-high 20 points leading the way. Vaugh finished with 17 and Akot had 16 points and 13 rebounds.

The game was the first of the second go around in Jayhawk Conference play as Butler completed the season sweep of the Beavers after previously earning another close win in the conference opener on Nov. 23rd at the Power Plant, 83-80.

The Grizzlies return home to the Power Plant on Wednesday, Jan. 29th, as they host the Seward Saints at 7:30 p.m. In the first matchup, Butler defeated Seward 80-74 in The Greenhouse.