INDEPENDENCE, Kan. - The Independence Men’s Basketball team fell just short in a 40-minute battle with the 17th-ranked Butler Grizzlies, 93-88 on Wednesday night. 

In a game that absolutely lived up to the billing between top two teams in the KJCCC standings, the two teams traded blows all night long, as there were 12 ties and eight lead changes throughout. 

The Grizzlies threw the first punch, jumping out to a quick 15-6 lead in the first few minutes, but the Pirates quickly answered back with a 12-3 run to tie the game up at 18 at the 12 minute mark. Indy was able to grab their biggest lead of the game at 37-31 at the six minute mark, but a 13-6 run to close out the half by the Grizzlies sent the teams to the halftime locker room deadlocked at 44.

The momentum quickly shifted to the side of the Grizzlies to start the second half, as back to back missed layups from the Pirates turned into back to back three pointers for Butler giving them a quick six point lead. The Pirates quickly answered with eight unanswered points, but the Grizzlies continued to stay hot from deep as they ended the Indy run with back to back deep balls to regain a 56-52 lead. 

At the 12 minute mark, Butler had pushed their lead out to double digits at 71-61 before the Pirates quickly cut the lead in half thanks to a Diezel Davis three pointer and a bucket from Zion Dixon. 

The game continued to hang in the balance as Butler nursed a seven point lead with just under four minutes remaining. A three point shot from Trae Lewis, followed by a pair of free throws from David Wilson cut the Pirate deficit down to two. David Wilson converted two more of his game high 27 points to tie the game with just under three minutes, before back to back trips to the free throw line gave Butler a four point lead once again. 

A bucket from Lonnie Bass Jr cut the four point lead in half, and after a one for two trip to the line from Butler the Pirates had a chance to tie it down just three. 

The Pirates were able to get two decent looks at a tie as both Wilson and Lewis came up empty, and Butler was able to secure the rebound and ice the game at the free throw line, for the five point victory. 

Shooting struggles from deep haunted Indy as they finished just 4-23 from long range, despite shooting 40% from the field overall. The Pirates did a great job of getting to the free throw line, but only converted 32 of 44 tries in the loss. Butler had slight advantages on the glass, and points off of turnovers, while Indy held the slight advantage in points in the paint.

Along with Wilson’s game high 27 points, the Pirates got double figure performances from Trae Lewis with 15 and ion Dixon with 10. Lonnie Bass Jr. battled in the frontcourt all night long, finishing with 16 points and 14 rebounds. 

With the loss the Pirates move to 12-7 in KJCCC play and for the time being, still remain in second place. Indy will now gear up for a non-conference game against Neosho on Saturday, before jumping back into conference play next Wednesday when they travel to take on Seward County.