Kirkwood’s Heroics Help Grizzlies Take Conference Opener From Pratt

EL DORADO, Kan. – The No. 6 ranked Butler Grizzlies earned an 83-80 win over the Pratt Beavers in Butler's conference opener on Saturday evening at the Power Plant.

Butler (6-1, 1-0 KJCCC) bounced back from its first loss of the season on Wednesday to NOC-Tonkawa in the home opener with the three-point win over the Beavers (4-4, 0-2).

The Grizzlies erased a seven-point (40-33) deficit at the half, outscoring Pratt 50-40 in the second half. It marked the fourth game this season the Grizzlies scored 50 or more points in a half.

Butler tied the game 52-52 at the 13:26 mark of the second half after trailing for the first 6:34. Pratt then ripped off an 8-0 run over the next two minutes to go ahead 60-52. Butler took its first lead of the half with just 4:37 remaining as sophomore guard Russell Branch drilled a three to put the Grizzlies ahead 70-69.

The final minutes were back and forth but Butler freshman guard Josiah Kirkwood made his presence felt. From 2:30 on in the game, Kirkwood scored on four out of five possessions to secure the 83-80 win for the Grizzlies. Redshirt freshman forward AJ Pierre-Jerome was also clutch in the final minute with two blocks as Pratt players tried to float layups in over him. Butler outscored Pratt 19-11 over the final five minutes.

Sophomore guard Bubba Leavell led Butler with 16 points, shooting 5-14 from three. Kirkwood finished with 14 points off the bench to go with four assists. Freshman guard Seven Bahati and freshman forward Emeka Opurum both added 10 points with Opurum bringing down eight rebounds.

The Grizzlies knocked down 13 threes compared to Pratt's five. Pratt outshot Butler at the free throw line by 21 attempts. Pratt shot 25-38 and Butler 10-17. Each team pulled down 38 rebounds and turned the ball over 14 times.

Pratt had two players score 20-plus. Khasen Robinson led the way with 25 points and six rebounds, Izeyah Harris added 21 points and 12 rebounds for the game's only double-double.

Butler jumped out to a 10-3 lead in the first two minutes of the game as Bahati and Branch hit threes while Opurum put in two layups. Pratt battled back to take a 14-12 lead. Butler tied the game 14-14 as freshman guard Cory Muehler made a layup. It was the last time they had the game tied or took a lead until the second half.

The Grizzlies return to action on Tuesday afternoon when they travel to Liberal to take on the Seward Saints.