Grizzlies open up new year with big offensive night and 62-point victory

The Butler Grizzlies started 2022 on a winning note at the Power Plant on Tuesday, ringing in the new year with an emphatic 122 points in a 122-60 win over Bethel College's JV squad.

Ten Grizzlies scored in the victory, and five players scored in double digits, led by Keyon Thomas with a season high 27 points, and Isiah Williams' 20, as the Grizzlies led wire to wire in the dominating victory.

The Grizzlies shot 53% on the night, aided by 13 three pointers. Their depth wore out the Threshers, finishing with 45 points from the bench. The Grizzlies played a clean game in their first game in nearly a month, with 30 assists and only three turnovers. Eden Holt led the Grizzlies with six assists. It was a successful night inside for the Grizzlies as well, finishing with 16 second chance points and a dominating 52 points in the paint.

Defensively, the Grizzlies were stifling, holding Bethel to 32% from the field and forcing 23 turnovers, converting 16 points off of those turnovers. Jaden Okon and Keyon Thomas both had four steals on the night. The Grizzlies also outrebounded the Threshers, 45-36, and gave up just five second chance points. The Grizzlies were led on the glass by CJ Powell, who finished with nine boards.

The Grizzlies, ranked 19th in the latest national poll, improved to 12-3 on the year with the non conference victory, and won their third straight game. It was a convincing victory after their last two games were decided by just one possession. The Grizzlies remained unbeaten at home, improving to 8-0 at the Power Plant. They'll look to return to conference play with a victory on Saturday, when they welcome last year's national runners up, the Cowley Tigers, to El Dorado for a 4:00pm tip-off.