PRATT, Kan. – The Grizzlies secured a 70-67 overtime win over the Pratt Beavers despite trailing by double digits at halftime on Saturday afternoon at the Beaver Dome.
Butler (13-3, 8-2 KJCCC) is now 5-0 on the road in KJCCC play. Pratt moves to 3-7 in KJCCC action and 5-10 overall. It was the first overtime game of the season for the Grizzlies.
Butler trailed 33-21 at halftime after shooting just 24.1% (7-29) in the first half. Pratt was 6-10 from three-point range in the first half, helping them to the big lead at the break.
The Grizzlies did not grab the lead back until the 12:44 mark of the second half as Aidan Wing converted an and-one opportunity at the free throw line to put Butler ahead 38-37.
The game was tight down the stretch in the second half. Grizzly guard AJ Williams hit two free throws with 19 seconds remaining to put Butler ahead 56-53. Pratt then called timeout prior to their final possession. Out of the timeout the Beavers Jarrett Dingle missed a three, but the long rebound was tipped out to a Pratt player and passed to the corner as Davonte Russ drained a three to tie the game with three seconds left. The Grizzlies could not score to take the win in regulation and the game headed to overtime.
Butler jumped out to a quick lead in overtime, scoring the first six point to take a 62-56 lead. They took an eight-point lead with 1:49 to play, the largest lead of the overtime period. Pratt immediately fired back with seven straight points to make it a 68-67 game with 21 seconds to play. Kaleb Washington knocked down two free throws on the ensuing possession to put Butler ahead by three and they ultimately secured the win.
Jamichael Stillwell paced Butler with his 10th double-double of the season as he had 15 points and 17 rebounds. Washington also finished with 15 points, adding five rebounds. Williams had 11 points, shooting 7-10 from the charity stripe. Christian Richardson had 12 points and five rebounds. Aidan Wing had nine points, his scoring high in a conference game.
For Pratt, Ross led with 19 points and nine rebounds. Dingle had 15 points and Caleb Smith totaled 11 points but had 10 turnovers.
Butler returns to the Power Plant on Wednesday, Jan. 17th, as Cloud County rolls into town for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.
