Butler easily handles Missouri State-West Plains in 83-70 win

The Butler men's basketball team recorded its most impressive win yet in the young season, defeating national power Missouri State-West Plains by an 83-70 score on Saturday at the Power Plant.

Missouri State-West Plains, which is receiving votes in the national poll after a 4-0 start, never led as Butler jumped ahead by as many as 25 points in the first half (39-14) and still led 44-23 at the half. West Plains would cut Butler's lead to as few as seven points in the second half, but would not get any closer than that.

Butler shot 56 percent from the floor (31-55) and had one of its best free throw shooting efforts of the season at 83 percent (15-18). Justin Simmons led Butler with 22 points, while Sean Osler had 14. Zac Bargen added nine, Cameron Cornelius and Lane Lindhorst had eight points apiece and Ja'ln Williams and Toles Hartman had seven points apiece.

Butler is now 4-5 on the season and will travel to Northern Oklahoma – Tonkawa on Tuesday to try to avenge an earlier 88-83 loss to the Mavericks at home.