The 20th ranked Barton Community College men's basketball team stayed hot at the Power Plant Wednesday night in El Dorado, posting a statement performance by leading from start to finish in a 102-94 victory knocking off 16th ranked Butler Community College.
After an early back-and-forth stretch, the Cougars created separation with a 6-0 run midway through the first half before breaking it open shortly thereafter with a decisive 10-0 surge. Back-to-back Blake Rucker three-pointers highlighted the stretch as Barton pushed the margin into double digits and carried a 44-36 lead into the locker room.
The Cougars maintained a double-digit advantage for much of the second half, stretching the lead to as many as 20 at the 14:08 mark. Butler made a late push, capitalizing on a flurry of Barton turnovers in the final two minutes to trim the deficit into single digits, but the Cougars overcame a season-high 30 turnovers by converting at the free throw line to secure the season sweep.
Barton's seventh straight victory climbs to within one of the conference race at 14-7 and 19-8 overall while Butler slips to 14-6 in Jayhawk Conference play and 18-8 on the season. With just three games remaining in the regular season, Barton returns home for a two-game homestand beginning Saturday with a 4:00 p.m. tip against Independence Community College at Fleske Fieldhouse.
Noah Williams led the Cougars with 21 points and nine rebounds, while Rucker poured in a career-high 20 points off the bench on 5-of-8 shooting, including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. Sebastian Muchitsch recorded 17 points and a game-high 13 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the year, and reigning KJCCC Player of the Week Aris Rodriguez added 14 points, four assists, and four steals. Jayden Ramirez narrowly missed his first double-double, going a perfect 8-of-8 at the line while hauling down nine rebounds. Jon Byrd matched Rodriguez with a team-high four assists and contributed nine points.
Barton shot 52.7 percent from the field and 46.2 percent from three-point range while dominating the glass 53-36. The Cougars controlled the paint 46-32 and converted 38-of-48 free throws to offset Butler's 23 second-chance points and 30 points off turnovers.
Butler shot just 36.5 percent from the floor and 21.7 percent (10-of-46) from beyond the arc while converting 22-of-31 at the free throw line. The Grizzlies placed six in double figures, led by Tim Walker II's 17 points and Jaise Combs' 15. Odie Williams added 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds, while Dominic Pleasants, Xavier Brown, and AJ Pierre-Jerome each chipped in 10.