Butler extends winning streak to four games with win over Neosho

Butler extends winning streak to four games with win over Neosho

The Butler men stayed unbeaten at home with a 74-63 non-conference victory over Neosho County on Tuesday at the Power Plant.

The Grizzlies used a surge at the end of the first half to separate themselves from the Panthers. Butler had taken an 11-5 lead at the 15:30 mark on a thunderous dunk by Lamont Pruitt, but Neosho was still hanging around later in the period, trailing 23-19 with 8:47 to go in the half.

That's when Butler went on a 16-4 run, triggered by a three 3-pointers – one each Isaiah Bradshaw, Sean Osler and Bakari Triggs – and a pair of baskets by Trent Richardson.

Butler would lead 39-27 at the half and then scored the first eight points of the second half on four free throws by Shomari Triggs and two steals and layups by Sean Osler.

The lead reached 20 points when Trent Richardson had another authoritative dunk with 14:52 to play. The Grizzlies would see their lead grow to as many as 22 points before Neosho closed the final gap to 11 points down the stretch.

Trent Richardson and Sean Osler scored 16 points apiece to lead the way for the Butler men, while twins Shomari and Bakari Triggs scored 11 points apiece. Jeremy Nolen led Neosho with 13 points.

The win is the fourth in a row for the Grizzlies, their second four-game winning streak of the season sandwiched around a pair of losses in the middle of the month. Butler is now 8-2 on the season and will take on Fort Scott in another non-conference home game at 7 p.m. on Saturday.