Men's Basketball opens season with big win over Bethany Swedes

The Butler Grizzlies opened up the season with a wire to wire victory against the Bethany College Swedes JV team at the Power Plant on Tuesday night, dominating the entire way with a 118-47 win to go to 1-0 on the season.

Eight different players reached double figures in the blowout, including all five starters. Butler was led by Issac Ondekane, who finished with 17 points to lead all scorers, and Isaiah Williams who finished with 13. Treylon Payne, Charles McClenahan and Eli Wiseman all finished with 12 while Javon Grant and Rob Brown were close behind with 10. Every Butler player finished with a basket as the Grizzlies jumped out to an 11-0 run to start the game and it was all academic from there. 

The Grizzlies shot 67% as a team, including shooting 10-23 from beyond the three point line, good enough for 45%. Wiseman was perfect from the field,  making all four shots including one three. He also led the Grizzlies in assists with eight, as the team finished with a total of 29. Butler also had a dominating night on the glass, earning 33 offensive rebounds resulting in 15 second chance baskets.

The Grizzlies were stingy defensively, holding the Swedes to 47 points and 32% as a team. Butler outrebounded the Swedes 44-21, led by Ondekane who finished with nine, and the Grizzlies forced 27 turnovers and converted those mistakes into 48 points off turnovers. The Grizzlies had 23 steals, led by Wiseman with six.

The Grizzlies improve to 1-0 on the season, and Kyle Fisher opens up his fourth year in charge of the Grizzlies with his 65th win. Next up for the Grizzlies is their first road trip of the year as they travel to Sedalia, Missouri for two games this weekend, facing Labette on Friday before a contest against the hosting State Fair College on Saturday night.