The 18th ranked Butler Grizzlies bounced back from their loss at Garden City on Wednesday, defeating the Independence Pirates, 76-68 win at the Power Plant on Saturday.
The Grizzlies were led offensively by Marque English, who finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds, his third double-double of the season The Grizzlies led the entire way, jumping out to a 14-4 lead and threatened to run away with the game early, but the Pirates refused to go away. It was a seven point game at halftime and it was a one possession game for much of the second half, but the Grizzlies were able to put away the Pirates down the stretch, with CJ Powell breaking away for a dunk with 38 seconds left in the game to put the exclamation point on the win.
It was a much better night in all phases of the game. The Grizzlies shot 45% from the field, and also had a great night from beyond the arc, finishing 50% from the three point line. Three Grizzly players finished with double figures, as Treylon Payne finished with 16 and Keyon Thomas finished with 12. After giving up 34 turnovers in the loss on Wednesday, Butler played a much cleaner game, finishing with just 11 turnovers and giving up only seven points off turnovers. The Grizzlies outrebounded the Pirates, 35-31. The Grizzly defense forced 23 points off of Independence turnovers and finished the night with 10 steals, which is a season high.
The win improves the Grizzlies record to 12-4, and 6-4 in the Jayhawk Conference. The Grizzlies remain unbeaten at home this season, winning all nine games at the Power Plant, and Kyle Fisher improves his dominant home record to 24-4 as head coach of the Grizzlies, and 17-3 in conference play. The Grizzlies will have a quick turnaround, returning home to face Colby, hoping to avenge a 104-84 loss to the Trojans when the two teams faced each other in Colby in November.