ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. – No. 19 Butler was bested in a top-20 battle by the No. 12 Cowley Tigers, 77-58, at W.S. Scott Auditorium on Sunday afternoon.
The loss for the Grizzlies (14-4, 9-3 KJCCC) was their first road loss in conference play this season, now sitting at 5-1. Cowley (16-2, 11-1) bounced back from their first conference loss on the road at Cloud County last Saturday and are currently tied for first place in the league with Barton (17-1, 11-1).
Reigning KJCCC Player of the Week Jamichael Stillwell was the only Grizzly clicking offensively as he finished with a game and season-high 25 points to go with eight rebounds.
The Grizzlies fell behind early and were never able to recover. Butler tied the game at 2-2 at the 17:42 mark of the first half and that was the last time they were not playing from behind. Cowley built a 12-4 lead as Jeff Nwankwo slammed home a dunk that started the Tigers momentum. Nwankwo was impressive all afternoon, leading Cowley with 24 points, eight rebounds, six steals and three assists. The Tigers made it a 20-point lead with 2:24 to go in the first half as Arzhonte Dallas hit a three. Butler got to halftime trailing by 17 at 38-21.
Cowley took its largest lead with 12:49 to play as Nwankwo hit a three to make it 59-32, a 27-point advantage.
Butler struggled shooting in the first half, shooting just 28% (7-25) from the field. They turned it around in the second half, shooting 51.6% (16-31) from the field but it was too little too late as the Tigers shot 50.8% in the game and knocked down 10 threes (10-26).
Christian Richardson had seven points and six rebounds for Butler. Amare Haynie also added seven points off the bench. Butler shot 3-13 (23.1%) from distance compared to the Tigers 38.5%, (10-26).
All five Cowley starters scored in double figures. Damare Smith added 12 points and seven rebounds while Dallas finished with 10 points and seven rebounds. Corey Thomas had the only double-double of the game with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Butler returns to action on Saturday as Northwest Kansas Technical travels to the Power Plant for a 4 p.m. tip.
