The Butler men moved on to the Region VI semifinals for the second consecutive season, fighting off Cloud County by a 82-69 score on Saturday at Koch Arena.
The Grizzlies improved to 27-5 on the season after the Cloud County win, Butler’s highest win total since the 2001 team that went 27-6.
Butler looked to be in control of a defensive battle in the first half, going up by 16 points when Kyle Sloan hit a 3-pointer with 2:40 to go before halftime. Cloud, however, would get within six points before Dushawn Brooks hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to put Butler in front 34-25.
Cloud continued its surge in the second half and would get within just two points at 60-58 with 7:38 to play. Butler would go on a 10-0 run over the next three minutes, highlighted by back-to-back 3-pointers by Dushawn Brooks that made the score 70-58 with four minutes to play, and the Grizzlies were not challenged again.
Butler was led by Dushawn Brooks, who tied his career high with 21 points and also led the team with seven rebounds. It is his third game with more than 20 points this season. Caleb Walker had 19 points and six rebounds, while Brandon Hilyard scored 13, giving him double digits for the third time in the past four games.
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The Butler men moved on to the Region VI semifinals for the second consecutive season, fighting off Cloud County by a 82-69 score on Saturday at Koch Arena.
The Grizzlies improved to 27-5 on the season after the Cloud County win, Butler’s highest win total since the 2001 team that went 27-6.
Butler looked to be in control of a defensive battle in the first half, going up by 16 points when Kyle Sloan hit a 3-pointer with 2:40 to go before halftime. Cloud, however, would get within six points before Dushawn Brooks hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to put Butler in front 34-25.
Cloud continued its surge in the second half and would get within just two points at 60-58 with 7:38 to play. Butler would go on a 10-0 run over the next three minutes, highlighted by back-to-back 3-pointers by Dushawn Brooks that made the score 70-58 with four minutes to play, and the Grizzlies were not challenged again.
Butler was led by Dushawn Brooks, who tied his career high with 21 points and also led the team with seven rebounds. It is his third game with more than 20 points this season. Caleb Walker had 19 points and six rebounds, while Brandon Hilyard scored 13, giving him double digits for the third time in the past four games.
