ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. – Western Nebraska Community College's Viktor Lukic-Gavric went for 30 points, including going 11-of-12 from the charity stripe, as the Cougars fell to Butler Community College 114-95 to finish off the Cowley Classic.

                Saturday's contest was one for the mathematicians as the first half was relatively low-scoring, as Butler held a 44-33 halftime lead. The second half saw the two teams combine for 132 points as Butler outscored WNCC 70-62 in the win.

                WNCC Lukic-Gavric had impressive numbers, burying three 3-pointers while going 11-of-12 from the free throw line and going 8-of-16 from the field. The Cougars also got double-digit scoring from Xavier Kirkpatrick with 12 points and 10 points each from Amare Jackson and Isaiah St. Preux.

                As a team, WNCC made nine 3-pointers and was 26-of-40 from the free-throw line. Butler made 14 3-pointers and was 22-of-31 from the free throw line.

                WNCC had an early lead by making the first bucket of the contest when Dorin Nguema made a lay-up three minutes into the contest. Butler then scored seven straight points. Butler led 24-12 with 9:56 left in the first half. WNCC sliced the deficit to seven, 37-30, with 2:40 to play on an Isaiah St. Preux 3-pointer. Butler led at halftime, 44-33.

                The second half saw the Cougars stay with Butler, but never could get the deficit under double digits.

                WNCC will be back in action Tuesday when the women and men travel to Torrington, Wyoming, to face Eastern Wyoming College in a doubleheader. The Cougars will then head to Thatcher, Arizona, for two games over the weekend against Eastern Arizona College and Cochise College.

Butler 114, WNCC 95
WNCC                33 62 – 95
Butler                  44 70 – 114
WNCC
Xavier Kirkpatrick 12, Viktor Lukic-Gavric 30, Amare Jackson 10, Toms Linis 7, Dorin Nguema 6, Noah Jones 3, Melchi Egbeyemi 4, Isaiah St. Preux 10, Willie Wilson 3, Nehemiah Jean Charles 7, Ocean Brobbey 3.
BUTLER
Josiah Kirkwood 3, Amare Jones 9, Devin Kerr 10, Aiven Riley 15, Odie Williams 10, Xavier Brown 9, Tim Walker II 15, Dominic Pleasants 2, Cory Muehler 5, Tristan Hankins 9, Jaise Combs 7, Gora Niang 16, AJ Pierre-Jerome 4.