EL DORADO, Kan. – The 11th-ranked Grizzlies played tough down the stretch and earned a 61-52 win over Seward in the Grizzlies conference home opener on Sunday afternoon at the Power Plant.
The game between Butler (7-1, 2-0 KJCCC) and Seward (2-5, 0-3 KJCCC) was played on Sunday after originally being scheduled for Saturday. Snowy and icy conditions affected Seward's travel to El Dorado on Saturday.
It was a struggle in the first half offensively for both teams. Butler shot 28.1% from the field while Seward shot 34.8% in the first 20 minutes. Seward instantly jumped out to a 5-0 lead before Khalil Arnold drilled a three to get the Grizzlies on the board. The teams traded buckets and found themselves tied 9-9 and it stayed that way until Mervin Hope made a jumper for the Saints with 13:18 to go in the first half to give them an 11-9 lead.
The game remained tight until Butler took a five-point lead with seven minutes remaining at 20-15 following AJ Williams making back-to-back layups. Seward eventually tied the game at 20-20 but the Grizzlies took a 24-21 lead into halftime.
Butler opened the second half on an 8-1 run before Seward hit a three to cut the Butler lead to 32-25. With the score sitting at 33-27, sophomore forward Charles McClennahan Jr. scored nine consecutive points to put Butler ahead 42-29 with 11 minutes remaining in the game. The Grizzlies kept the lead around double-digits until Seward guard Amir Whitlock made a layup and hit a three in consecutive possessions to cut the Butler lead to 50-45 with 4:29 remaining. Butler closed the game out the rest of the way, knocking down critical free throws to secure the 61-52 win and move to 2-0 in league play.
Charles McClennahan Jr. led Butler with a career-high tying 13 points and nine rebounds off the bench. Freshman guard Khalil Arnold tied for a team-high with 13 points in his first start as a Grizzly, shooting 3-3 from deep. Deuce Drake added 11 points, five assists, three rebounds and two steals while AJ Williams totaled 10 points, five assists and three steals. Jamichael Stillwell added eight points and seven rebounds.
The Grizzlies return to action on Wednesday, Nov. 29, at Coffeyville at 7:30 p.m. CT.
