Men’s Basketball Splits a Pair at Moberly Area Classic to Open Season

Game 1: #13 Butler 84, Henry Ford 72

Butler led the game from start to finish, ultimately defeating the No. 2 ranked D2 Henry Ford by 12. Butler came out hot to start in the first half, taking an 8-3 lead and eventually growing it to a 17-7 lead. A three pointer from guard Amare Haynie put the Grizzlies ahead 39-23 with a minute left in the first half, their largest lead of the half. Butler went into the half leading 39-27.

The lead in the second half grew to 17 at one point at 50-33. Henry Ford battled back to keep the Grizzly lead to around 10 points for the remainder of the game but Butler secured its first win of the season, 84-72.

Forward Jamichael Stillwell led Butler with 24 points and 13 rebounds. Haynie was 5-8 from deep for 15 points while guard Deuce Drake had 14 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists, just three assists shy of a triple-double.

Game 2: #20 Moberly Area 73, #13 Butler 65

The Grizzlies fell on Saturday to host school, 20th-ranked Moberly Area, 73-65.

Guard Kaleb Washington led Butler with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Stillwell had seven points and a team-high 12 rebounds. Haynie had 15 points and forward Charles McClennahan Jr. posted 13 points and nine rebounds, narrowly missing a double-double.

The first half was close with the teams being tied at 16 midway through.

Later in the first half Butler trailed just 34-31 with three minutes to go before Moberly went on an 8-1 run to close the half and lead 44-32 at the break.

The Greyhounds led by double digits for a majority of the second half. They held a 67-54 lead with 4:37 to go but Butler showed tremendous grit, eventually narrowing it down to a two-point game at 67-65 with 1:21 to go. Moberly put the Grizzlies away with free throws down the stretch, winning 73-65.