Ring Malith's career high seven three-pointers for a 31 point night sparked the 3rd ranked Barton Community College men's basketball team to an overwhelming 93-71 win over 20th ranked Butler Community College.
Barton gained separation midway through the first half breaking the last tie with a 7-1 stretch, five points coming from Malith including the first of his personal best arc busters.
Another Malith trey gave the Cougars its first double digit lead with 7:13 remaining as Barton would build the lead out to a fifteen point cushion at the halftime break.
Ten seconds out of the locker room Malith dialed up long distance again, knocking down another pair scattered throughout the final half with Keandre Kindell's trey giving Barton its largest lead of twenty-five points with 4:14 remaining in cruising to the series sweep.
Aleng Bol capped the Cougars final trey with 2:19 left as the squad matched its season high 13 triples on a third best 46.4% behind the arc, better than its 41.8% combined shooting across the floor.
Continuing its program conference unbeaten streak to thirteen games, Barton improves to 16-1 in league and 22-1 overall while Butler slips to 12-4 in conference play and 17-5 overall.
Barton will make the lengthy trip to Goodland for its next contest on Saturday in an 8:30 p.m. (CT) tip at Northwest Kansas Technical College.
Malith's point total came on 10-of-16 overall shooting, 7-of-10 behind the arc, adding a perfect four tosses from the charity stripe and grabbing five rebounds with two coming from the offensive glass in his twenty-five minutes of court time.
As all twelve Cougars contributed at least three points in the team total, Lajae Jones was the only other in double figures with 11 points and 10 rebounds in posting his 8th double-double of the season.
The Cougars forced 18 Butler turnovers on the night, 15 coming on steals as Cooper Jackson added four to his historic total with Mozae Downing-Rivers and Kindell coming up with three each.
Jackson and Kindell also contributed nine points each with Downing-Rivers scoring six and dishing out a game high six assists.
The Grizzlies placed four in double figures with Jason "Deuce" Drake and Christian Richardson leading the way with 16 points each and 10 points each coming from Anthony "AJ" William and Charles McClennahan.
SERIES NOTES
- The teams have split the last ten meetings
- Barton has won the last two meetings and three-of-the-last four
- Barton leads the series 33-19 at Barton Gym
- Barton leads the overall series 61-47
Record Book Watch
Cooper Jackson
- 171 career steals *2nd most – 148 behind Eric Bush's 319 (1999-01)