Cold Shooting Night the Decider in No. 16 Grizzlies Loss to No. 20 Barton

EL DORADO, Kan. – The No. 16 Butler Grizzlies had their worst shooting performance of the season in Wednesday night's loss to No. 20 Barton in the Power Plant. 

The Grizzlies (18-8, 14-6 KJCCC) trailed Barton (19-8, 14-7) from start to finish on Wednesday night. Despite the loss, the Grizzlies remain in first place in the Jayhawk Conference standings, but now the Cougars are only half of a game back and hold the tie breaker, with Barton winning both matchups against the Grizzlies. Butler lost to Barton in Great Bend back on January 3^rd 118-113. 

In both matchups' vs Barton, the Grizzlies fell behind big and put up late runs that proved to be too little too late. Butler trailed by as many as 24 in the first half in the game in Great Bend and came all the way back in the second half to eventually take the lead, but Barton eventually prevailed.

This time around in El Dorado, Barton took their biggest lead of the night, 20, with 14:08 to go. With Barton leading 97-81 with 2:05 remaining, it seemed all hope had been lost in a comeback. But after several Barton turnovers that turned into Grizzly points, Butler cut the deficit to 100-94 with 19 seconds remaining and had possession with a chance to maybe make a three to make it a one possession game, but a costly turnover ultimately iced the game, with the Grizzlies falling to Barton for the second time this year, 102-94. 

Wednesday night's shooting proved to be the downfall for the Grizzlies, as they shot a season low 21.7 percent from behind the arc (10 of 46) and shot 36.5 percent from the floor. The Grizzlies began the game shooting 0-15 from three. Barton shot an impressive 52.7 percent from the field and were six of 13 from three. Just like the first matchup, there were plenty of foul calls. Barton shot 38-48 from the free throw line to the Grizzlies 22-31. 

The Butler full-court press kept them in the game, forcing 30 Barton turnovers, a season high for the Cougars. The Grizzlies had 30 points off turnovers. 

Barton is surging at the right time, as they have won their last seven games with three games remaining on their schedule. 

With the loss, the Grizzlies fall to 8-3 at home on the season. 

Next up: No. 16 Butler will be on the road on Saturday to take on Cowley at 3 p.m. from William S. Scott Gymnasium in Arkansas City, Kan.