Preview: Saints Look to Bounce Back After First Loss

LIBERAL, Kan. – Coming off a tough Jayhawk Conference opening loss, the Seward County men's basketball team will look to rebound on Wednesday night (Nov. 15) when the Saints host Butler (3-1, 0-1) at 8:00 p.m. inside the Greenhouse.

The Saints dropped a 76-69 heart breaker in the Greenhouse on Saturday, relinquishing a six-point halftime lead to No. 1 Hutchinson. Seward (4-1, 0-1) were primed for an upset, coming away with 14 first-half offensive rebounds, but a 47-point second half by the Blue Dragons prevented it.

Devin Bethely led all scorers with a career-high 21 points.  As a team, the Saints shot just 35.6% from the floor and 28.6% from behind the arc, while allowing the Blue Dragons to shoot for 42.1% from the field and 47.1% from deep.

The loss was the first of the season for the Saints.

Butler is coming off a 75-59 home loss to Garden City.  After averaging 123 points through the first three games, the Broncbusters were able to hold the Grizzlies to just 59 points on 27.7% shooting. Butler has seven players averaging double-digit points – Equan Ards (15.5 ppg), Karlon McSpadden (13.3 ppg), Adrian Moore (13.0 ppg), Jared Armstrong (12.8 ppg), Russell Smith (12.0 ppg), Anthony Bratton (10.5 ppg), and Ketarrious Brouchum (10.3 ppg).

The Grizzlies have won two straight against the Saints, sweeping both contests a year ago.  The Saints last win came in December 2015 in a 101-81 shootout in the Greenhouse.  Butler leads the all-time series, 49-43.

The game will be live-streamed on SewardSaints.com and can be heard on 107.5 KSCB FM as Brock Kappelmann (pxp) is on the call.  Free tickets are available thanks to Conestoga and can be picked up at Conestoga, and Liberal Pizza Hut and Hutch's.