Box Score In a game that featured 6 ties and 5 lead changes, it was the many runs that told the story. After trailing for much of the first half, Butler would finally regain the lead late in the first half and hang on for a 72-62 win Monday (Dec. 3) night. The Panthers fall to 5-5 on the year with the loss while Butler ties its total of 10 wins from last season in only their 12^th game of the year.
 
The Panthers led by as many as 8 points in the first half, but Butler would outscore Neosho 21-7 over the final 7:47 of the half. After trailing for the first 17 minutes of the half, the Grizzlies would take a 38-32 lead into the locker room at halftime.
 
Butler would take control of the game early in the second half and push their lead out to 13 points at 54-41 with 13:24 left in the game. The Panthers would begin to chip away at the lead, cutting the lead to 1 in just over 3 minutes when Daniel Magley's three pointer made the score 58-57.
 
Just as quickly as the Panthers cut the lead to 1, the Grizzlies would push it back out to double digits with 5:25 to play. The Panthers were unable to get regain the lead as the closest they would come was 6 points with only 49 seconds left to play.
 
Jamie Batish scored a career high 21 points and 6 assists for the Panthers, knocking down 5-9 three pointers to lead all scorers on the night. Jeremy Nolen added 11 to join Batish in double figures. Four different Grizzlies scored in double figures on the night led by Bakari Triggs 14.
 
The Panthers won't play another game until after the new year as they head into Christmas break at 5-5. Their next action will be the Sonic Shootout January 1-2. They will take on Paris Junior College on January 1 at 8:00 pm, and MSU-West Plains January 2 at 4:00 pm. The other games of the tournament will feature Barton Community College against West Plains on the 1^st at 6:00 pm and Paris Junior College on the 2^nd at 2:00pm.