Men knock off Moberly (Mo.) in consolation bracket at Coffeyville

COFFEYVILLE, Kan. – The Butler men's basketball team rode a solid defensive effort to a 61-54 win over Moberly (Mo.) in the consolation bracket at the Elite 8 Tournament at Nellis Hall.

Butler trailed 26-23 at the half, but used a big second-half surge on the way to a 61-54 win.

Justin Simmons again was the only Grizzly in double figures, scoring 24 points in the contest, while Eric Watson added nine points. Butler's defense had one of its better performances of the season, holding Moberly to just 36 percent shooting from the floor.

Butler improves to 6-7 on the season and will face Missouri State-West Plains on Saturday at 3 p.m. in a rematch of a game played earlier this season in El Dorado, in which Butler won 83-70.