CHANUTE, Kan. – A 12 point second half deficit proved too much for Neosho to overcome as No. 11 Butler escaped with a 73-71 to remain undefeated on the season.
                             
The Grizzlies (11-0, 0-0) closed the first half on a 9-1 run to open a 10 point lead, their largest of the half. For the first 10 minutes neither team could find a way to pull away as full court pressure defense from both teams made baskets hard to come by.
 
Brett Frantz knocked down a 3-pointer with 10:35 left in the first to give the Panthers (3-9, 0-0) the first two score lead of the game for either team. Butler would respond with an 8-0 run capped with back to back 3-pointers to grab the lead for good with 7:59 left in the first half.
 
Neosho began to slowly chip away at the Butler lead in the second half, and back to back 3-pointers from BJ Jenkins and Brett Frantz pulled Neosho to within a point with just over 4 minutes left.
 
The Grizzlies again would answer with four straight points to pull ahead 72-67. Joseph Acuil would get free for a dunk to cut the lead to three and followed by drawing a foul while making the basket to pull within 1 with 1:05 to play. Acuil's free throw attempt would roll off the rim giving Butler a chance to extend their lead.
 
On the ensuing Butler possession Kyle Steward would draw a foul but only converted on one of his free throw attempts giving the Panthers the ball down 2 with 20 seconds remaining.
 
Jenkins would get a look as the clock wound down but his jumper from just outside the paint was deflected by a Grizzly defender and the Neosho's couldn't get a put back attempt off before the buzzer.
 
It is the third consecutive game the Panthers have dropped to Butler with all three games being decided by 3 points or less.
 
Joseph Acuil finished with game highs of 23 points, 16 rebounds, and 6 blocked shots in the loss. BJ Jenkins added 20 points and 7 assists while logging a career high 39 minutes. Brett Frantz also logged a career high 39 minutes, finishing with 11 points and a career best 6 assists.