TOWANDA, Kan. - The Butler men used a balanced attack to beat Southwestern JV 92-68 in the 2016-17 season opener Friday night at Circle High School.
Butler had five players score in double figures, with freshman Johnnathan Lindsey leading the Grizzlies with 14 points. Sophomore guard Jacolby Harris scored 13, while Karlon McSpadden and Semaj Hervey added 12 points each. LaJuan Hardy added 10 points and a game-high seven assists in the win.
Southwestern played close with Butler in the opening half, but the Grizzlies created some distance with an 11-2 run midway through the half.
Leading 16-11 with 13:26 before the break, McSpadden, Hardy and Harris each made layups. After a three-pointer by Southwestern's Jarehn White, Harris answered with a trey and Will Adler followed with a layup.
Butler led by 15 points with just 8:16 remaining in the contest before using an 18-3 run to pull away. Ken Perkins scored six points and Hervey hit two field goals during the Grizzlies' run. Tevin Berry's layup at the 4:11 mark put the Grizzlies up 88-58, which ended up being Butler's largest lead of the game.
The Grizzlies led Southwestern 42-31 at the break, but hit 65 percent (19-of-29) and outrebounded the Moundbuilders 17-9 in the second half.
Butler dominated the paint by scoring 46 points and added 28 points off of 22 Southwestern turnovers. The Grizzlies also won the rebounding edge 39-19, with Perkins pulling down eight boards to lead Butler.
Butler will next be in action on Saturday against Fort Scott in a non-conference contest on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. from Towanda.
