ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — The Butler men suffered their fourth consecutive defeat Saturday with an 84-74 loss at Cowley.
Jared Armstrong led the Grizzlies (8-12 overall, 5-12 conference) with 20 points, while Justin Criddle added 16 in the loss. Jeremiah Starks scored a game-high 26 points for Cowley (13-8, 10-7), who ended a four-game losing streak.
After a closely contested first half, Cowley took a 40-39 lead at the break. The half featured 16 lead changes and eight ties, with Cowley taking the biggest lead at four on four different occassions.
Butler grabbed its only lead of the second half with 17:05 to play when Jared Armstrong drained a three-pointer to a 43-42 advantage.
Cowley then scored seven straight points to re-take the lead at 49-43. Starks hit a trey and made two free throws during the Tigers' run.
Butler would trail by as many as 12 in the second half, as Cedric Rembert made a three-pointer at the 8:38 mark for a 66-54 Cowley lead.
Following Rembert's trey, Butler made a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to five. Justin Criddle was fouled on a made basket, then hit the charity shot. Kamari Thornton would make 1-of-2 free throws, then Criddle connected on a three-pointer.
However, Butler could come no closer as Cowley never allowed the Grizzlies to score consecutive baskets in the final 7:09 of play.
Butler will next host Allen on Wednesday in a 7:30 p.m. contest from the Power Plant.