Balanced attack pace Butler men in 114-46 win over McPherson JV

Balanced attack pace Butler men in 114-46 win over McPherson JV

Six Grizzlies scored in double figures as the Butler men routed McPherson College JV in a 114-46 home non-conference victory Tuesday night at the Power Plant.

Butler sophomore guard Juwan White led all scorers with 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting while adding eight rebounds, five assists and four blocks. Javaunte Hawkins finished with 18, while Grehlon Easter, Marque English and Dylan Orr each scored 16 points. Kamron Brice added 10 points for the Grizzlies (4-1 overall), who reached the 100-point mark for the second consecutive game and third time this season.

Butler dominated the game from the opening tip, scoring the first 11 points behind five points from Easter and two field goals from English. The Grizzlies built a 35-7 lead with 7:34 before halftime, aided by a 15-1 run capped on consecutive 3-pointers from White and Hawkins.

Meanwhile, McPherson JV would only make two field goals in the opening 12:43 of play.

Butler led 58-24 at the break, then pushed the lead to 40 at the 16:37 mark of the second half on a White steal and layup.

The margin would hover around 40 until the 13:24 mark, as Easter hit three foul shots after getting fouled on a 3-point attempt. Easter's charity shots would begin a 31-6 Grizzly run over the next 8:07 of play.

Butler eclipsed the 100-point mark with 4:30 remaining on a Kamron Brice layup, courtesy of a Javaunte Hawkins assist. Brice then added a 3-pointer on the next possession as the Grizzlies stretched their lead over 60, taking a 104-43 lead over the Bulldogs.

Orr came off the bench to block six shots and score all 16 of his points on 8-of-11 shooting in the second half, which included a pair of dunks.

Butler kept consistent shooting throughout the game, as the Grizzlies made 55 percent (44-of-80) from the field and hit 33 percent beyond the arc (9-of-27). McPherson made just 22.7 percent (17-of-75), with 15.6 percent (5-of-32) from 3-point land.

Butler outrebounded McPherson 56-32, with White, Orr and Brice each pulling down eight rebounds.

The Grizzlies will play two non-conference games in Sedalia, Mo., this weekend, beginning with a 3:00 p.m. Friday contest against Moberly Area (Mo.). Butler will then face host State Fair (Mo.) at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Butler will finish out the non-conference schedule with home games against Iowa Western (Tuesday, Nov. 19; 7:30 p.m.) and Bethany College JV (Friday, Nov. 22; 7:00 p.m.) before opening Jayhawk Conference play on Tuesday, Nov. 26 at Seward County.

NOTES: Butler's 68-point win was the largest margin of victory since a 137-40 home non-conference win over Southwestern College JV on Nov. 6, 2017… Balanced scoring has been the trend for the Grizzlies after just five games, as seven players are averaging double figures in points.