ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. – The Butler men fell 83-81 to Cowley on Wednesday, losing on a buzzer-beater after rallying from a 14-point second-half deficit.

With the loss, the Grizzlies (19-8 overall, 5-4 conference) drop to third place in the Jayhawk East standings, just a game behind Coffeyville.

Butler trailed 66-52 with nine minutes remaining before putting together a comeback bid. The Grizzlies chipped away at Cowley's lead and pulled within three, 75-72, on a pair of Bakari Triggs with 4:44 to play.

The Grizzlies would cut the deficit to two on three different occasions, then Lamar Wofford-Humphrey tied the game at 81-all on a tip-in with 15 seconds to play. After a timeout, Cowley's Kazmere Boyd ended the game with a bank shot at the buzzer to give the Tigers the win.

Butler started hot offensively, jumping out to an 18-7 advantage just five minutes into the game. The 11-point lead would be the largest lead for the Grizzlies, who led 38-37 at the halftime mark.

Cowley led for nearly the entire second half, but Larry Fitzgerald's three-pointer with 14:45 remaining pulled Butler within one, 49-48. A 17-4 Cowley run then gave the hosts its biggest lead before the Grizzlies mounted its comeback.

Four players scored in double figures for the Grizzlies, including 21 points from sophomore Larry Fitzgerald. Shomari Triggs added 20, while Bakari Triggs and Lamar Wofford-Humphrey scored 16 and 14, respectively.

Butler will host Jayhawk East leader Independence in the home regular-season finale Saturday at 7:30 p.m.