DODGE CITY, Kan. – Facing deficits in regulation and the first overtime, the Butler men managed to take advantage of Seward County's inability to close out a game and pulled out a 99-98 victory in two overtimes Friday at the Dodge City Classic.
Butler sophomore guard Shomari Triggs, who scored a game-high 29 points, ended the wild contest with a steal on an errant pass with three seconds remaining in the second OT.
In addition to Triggs' effort, the Grizzlies (7-1 overall) had four players score in double figures. Bakari Triggs scored 21 points, while Trent Richardson finished with a double-double (15 points, 12 rebounds). Sean Goodwin added 11 points.
Both teams combined for 76 fouls – 37 each – and 108 free throws. Butler bested Seward at the foul line, hitting 67 percent (37-of-55). Meanwhile, the Saints shot a horrid 49 percent (26-of-53) at the charity stripe. Seward hit just 9-of-22 foul shots in the final 11 minutes of the game.
After a wild first half that featured seven ties and six lead changes, Butler broke a 42-42 halftime tie with a 12-0 run to start the second half. Shomari Triggs opened the run with a three-pointer, then Bakari Triggs followed with field goal and a trey. Goodwin and Bakari Triggs hit consecutive baskets to give the Grizzlies a 54-42 lead just less than three minutes into the half.
But Seward would battle right back, while Butler went on a cold shooting streak. Over a seven-minute span, Seward pieced together a 16-2 run – turning an eight-point deficit into a six-point lead, 78-72, with under four minutes to play in regulation.
Seward appeared to have a win locked down, leading 83-78 with 36 seconds to play. Larry Fitzgerald converted a three-point play to pull Butler within two. The Saints followed with two missed free throws, and on the second miss, Bakari Triggs was fouled on after securing the rebound. With 15.7 seconds left, Triggs hit two foul shots to tie the game. Seward missed a running shot at the end of regulation to send the game into overtime.
In the first overtime, Seward hit a field goal to go up 89-87 with 23 seconds left. The Saints had a chance to go up four after Bakari Triggs was called for a technical foul after the basket, but Seward missed both foul shots. Butler responded from Seward's miscues, as Dominique O'Connor was fouled after tying the game with a basket in the lane with 1.9 seconds left. However, O'Connor's free throw was missed, forcing a second overtime.
Butler never trailed in the second OT, hitting 5-of-6 free throws to take a 96-90 lead with 1:48 to play. Seward made a late 8-3 run, pulling within a point on Kevin Smith's three-pointer with 14.3 seconds remaining. After a Seward foul, Calvin Johnson missed two foul shots to give the Saints a chance to win the game. However, Shomari Triggs' steal ended any chance of heroics by Seward County.
