Butler pulls away for 79-66 win at Cowley

Hitting 9-of-15 three-point attempts in the opening half of is home game against Butler Community College on Wednesday, the Cowley College men's basketball team trailed by just two points at the end of the first half (43-41). However, making just 3-of-9 three-point attempts in the second half, the Tigers fell by a score of 79-66.

Once the shots stopped falling for the Tigers, Butler continued to score inside and out-physicaled Cowley by out-rebounding the Tigers 40-19. Butler would out-rebound Cowley 23-6 in the second half.

"Butler took us to the woodshed in the second half," Cowley head coach Donnie Jackson said. "The thing I am most disappointed in for us is that this was a big game and we did not compete hard enough to win."

The Tigers have dropped three games in a row to fall to 14-14 overall and 10-12 in the Jayhawk Conference. Cowley was led by Raishaun Brown and Xavier Valley, who finished with 16 points apiece.

A three-pointer by Valley pulled the Tigers within 62-59 with 9:30 left to play, but Cowley went the next five minutes without scoring as Butler pulled away for the 13-point victory.

The Grizzlies, winners of four games in a row, improves to 20-6 overall and 14-6 in the Jayhawk Conference. Eden Holt led Butler with 21 points and seven assists.

Cowley will play a second straight home game Saturday when they face Cloud County at 7:30 p.m. The T-Birds (13-15) have beaten Coffeyville and Garden City in their past two outings.

"Saturday is a huge game for both teams in the standings as both teams are battling for a home playoff spot," Jackson said. "We have zero time to feel sorry for ourselves. There is no other way around it, this is a must win game for us."

Box score:

Butler (79): Treylon Payne 4-8 2-2 13, Eden Holt 8-11 1-1 21, Jaden Okon 7-11 4-5 18, Isaiah Williams 3-7 0-3 8, Marque English 4-11 3-4 11, Shawn Warrior 0-0 0-0 0, Keyon Thomas 1-4 0-0 2, Isaac Ondekane 3-5 0-1 6. Totals: 30-57 10-16 79.

Cowley (66): Raishaun Brown 6-9 2-2 16, Mekhi Cameron 3-11 1-3 9, Clarence King 4-15 1-3 11, Xavier Valley 6-10 0-0 16, Trevion Alexander 0-2 0-0 0, Xavier Washington 2-3 0-0 6, Emmanuel Austin 2-2 0-0 4, Christian Williams 0-0 0-0 0, Kennedy Willis 2-2 0-0 4. Totals: 25-54 4-8 66.

Three-pointers: Butler 9-19 (Holt 4-6, Payne 3-5, Williams 2-3, Thomas 0-3, English 0-2), Cowley 12-24 (Valley 4-8, King 2-5, Cameron 2-5, Brown 2-4, Washington 2-2). Rebounds: Butler 40 (Okon, English 8), Cowley 19 (Valley 5). Assists: Butler 13 (Holt 7), Cowley 13 (King 4). Turnovers: Butler 13, Cowley 8. Total fouls: Butler 12, Cowley 14. Fouled out: none. Technicals: none.