Cowley Bows Out To Butler In Overtime
(Content from Cowley Sports Information)
El Dorado, KS – Cowley College gave the No. 25-ranked Butler Community College Grizzlies all they could handle on Monday Night at the Power Plant in El Dorado before falling in overtime. Final score: 70-59. Butler entered the game unbeaten at home (10-0), while Cowley has just one win away from W.S. Scott Auditorium.
The Grizzlies would lead Monday’s game 10-4 after the first five minutes of play, but Cowley rallied to lead 22-16 following a three-pointer by Mekhi Cameron with 7:12 left in the opening half. The Tigers would score only three more points the remainder of the half, yet went into the break leading 25-24.
Cowley fell behind 40-33 eight minutes into the second half before rallying to tie the game at 50-50 on a basket by Raishaun Brown at the 1:38 remaining.
Neither team would score again in regulation as the game went to overtime tied at 50-50.
“You hold Butler to 50 points in regulation, on their home court, you need to find a way to win that game,” Cowley head coach Donnie Jackson said.
Butler would score the first six points of the extra session and led 62-53 following a three-pointer by Treylon Payne with 1:45 left in overtime. With Cowley forced to foul, the Grizzlies iced the game going 10-of-10 from the foul line, outscoring the Tigers 20-9 in the extra session.
“I liked what we were doing the first 40 minutes, then we just kind of folded in overtime,” Jackson said. “We have got to find a way to finish the tough plays.”
Butler was 18-of-23 from the foul line, while Cowley made just 12-of-21 free throw attempts.
“If you are struggling to score, you better make your free throws and we were not able to do that,” Jackson added.
Freshman Trevion Alexander was a bright spot in the loss as he came off the bench to grab a game-high six rebounds in 18 minutes of action.
“Trevion has taken advantage of his opportunities and I hope he continues to progress,” Jackson said.
Brown and Clarence King shared game-high honors for Cowley with 15 points apiece. The duo combined to make 11-of-16 field goal attempts, while the rest of the team went 10-of-34.
Butler was led by Keyon Thomas’ 18 points and eight assists. The Grizzlies are now 15-5 overall and 9-5 in the Jayhawk Conference. 3 and 2 in their last five games, BuCo will try to stay on course at Pratt on Thursday.
Cowley is now 10-10 overall and 6-8 in the conference. The Tigers will attempt to get back in the victory column when they play at Northwest Kansas Technical College Wednesday.
