Keith Spencer

The Saints (15-1, 1-1 Jayhawk West) played up-and-down throughout the entire game, committing 19 turnovers and not capitalizing on opportunities Butler gave them throughout the second-half.

Seward led by as many as nine points in the first half (32-23), yet went scoreless during 10 minutes in the first stanza, allowing Butler to cut their lead to just two points before half-time (34-32).

Butler came out of the locker room and into the second-half with momentum building a 10 point lead, 55-45.

Seward County did make a late game comeback as the Saints went on a 17-6 run, when Keith Spencer and Mark Hall scored field goals on back-to-back possessions, giving the Saints a 62-61 lead, with 9.2 seconds remaining in the game.

On the final play of the game, Butler ’s point guard, Ladarious Weaver brought the ball down the floor and made a pass that was deflected by a Seward County defender. The ball was picked up by Butler ’s Jordan Clements, who then drove to the basket and scored the game-winning field goal with just 0.9 seconds remaining in the game.

Butler was led by 5 foot-11 inch reserve point guard, Jorge Espino, who scored a game-high 18 points and was 4-for-7 from three-point range. Espino entered Saturday night’s game averaging just 5.1 points per game this season. Butler however was not flawless Saturday night, shooting a horrendous 20 percent (3-for-15) from the free-throw line.

Saints leading scorer, Adam Tanner, was held to just six points (2-for-5 shooting) before fouling out of the game with several minutes remaining.

The Saints were led by sophomores, Jerrell Green (16 points) and Spencer (seven points, nine rebounds) and Saints freshman, Theron Wilson, who scored 16 points for SCCC.

The Saints will be back at the Green House on Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 8:00 p.m. hosting the Pratt Community College Beavers (12-4, 1-1), who defeated Hutchinson 75-68, on Saturday night in Hutchinson , Kan.

NOTES:
Saints Head Coach, Dave Brown , will have a chance to tie the SCCC men’s basketball record for most wins all-time for a head coach with 224, on Wednesday against Pratt.

Other results from Saturday night in the Jayhawk West Conference:
Barton County defeated Garden City 76-70; Cloud County defeated Colby 90-73 and Dodge City was idle.