Grizzlies Score Most Points in KJCCC Game Since 2018 in Win Over Indy

EL DORADO, Kan. – The 24th ranked Butler men's basketball team bounced back from a loss, winning big over Independence 118-63 at the Power Plant on Saturday afternoon

The Grizzlies (18-7, 13-6 KJCCC) recovered from a loss at Colby on Tuesday by scoring the program's most points in a conference game since January 3rd, 2018, in a road win over Pratt, 128-107. Indy fell to11-14 and 7-2 in league action.

Butler shot a season-high 55.8% (43-77) from the field as well as finishing with a season-high 24 assists. They shot 70.3% from the field in the first half heading to the locker room with 67 points leading 67-30.

"Just what the doctor ordered," said head coach Eric Nitsche. "Our shot quality and the way the ball was popping, I thought we were really sharing it well."

Seven Grizzlies scored in double figures including five players off the bench as Butler got 78 points from the non-starters. Freshman Seven Bahati led the Grizzlies in scoring for a second consecutive game scoring 18 and shooting 4-7 from distance. Bahati is 9-13 from three in his last three contests. The team shot 13-33 from three (39.4%).

"We've seen the good distribution at times this year but the selflessness this team has is a real thing that can snowball into really good things," Nitsche said.

Devin Kerr finished with a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double, his third of the year. Emeka Opurum tallied 13 points and seven rebounds, AJ Pierre-Jerome had 14 points, and four rebounds and Josiah Kirkwood contributed 14 points and a team-high tying six assists with Russell Branch also adding six assists. Bubba Leavell shot 4-5 from three with 12 points and Rashad McCormick added 11 points and five rebounds.

The Grizzly defense held Indy to 22-68 (32.4%) from the field and out rebounded the Pirates 51-27. They also outscored the Pirates 54-26 in the paint. Butler held the conference's leading scorer, Chiante Tramble, to 5-15 shooting for 17 points, over six under his average. He was joined in scoring double figured with teammate Jahmari Hamilton-Brown who had 12 points and six rebounds.

The 55-point margin of victory was Butler's largest of the season.

Butler used an 18-0 scoring run midway through the first half that saw them pull away.

Butler travels to Coffeyville on Wednesday for a road matchup at Nellis Hall between the third place Red Ravens and fourth place Grizzlies. Butler lost the first meeting between the two, 70-61 at the Power Plant, on Jan. 4th. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.