Saints keep trying, but fall short in 80-70 loss to No. 11 Grizzlies

LIBERAL, Kan. – The Seward County Community College men's basketball team was competitive, holding leads in the first and second halves, but could not get over the hump and loss to No. 11 Butler Community College, 80-74, on Tuesday at the Greenhouse.

The Saints remained winless in the Jayhawk conference at 0-3 and 1-7 overall. Seward tries to get into the conference win column when it hosts Pratt at 8 p.m. on Saturday in the Greenhouse.

Trayon Grant-Foster and Benni Kazadi each had 15 points, Muhammed Jobe added 11 points and Loic Affoumon chipped in with six points and 11 rebounds for Seward, which held a 15-4 lead in the first half before trailing 43-33 at the half.

The Saints battled all the way back and took a 56-51 lead midway through the second half. The Grizzlies answered with an 18-2 explosion and Seward could not mount the comeback.

Bubba Leavell had 24 points, Devin Kerr added 17 points and 13 rebounds and Russell Branch netted 14 points for Butler, which improved to 2-0 in conference play and 7-1 overall.