Broncbusters roll No. 18 Butler

By Mike Pilosof

Photo by Adam Shrimplin

Garden City, KS-Bill Morosco isn't into nicknames and catchphrases. But his latest saying, conjured up during dinner with friends, may just stick.

Press city, and it's coming to a gym near you.

The Broncbusters relentless pressure forced Butler into 34 turnovers, Tone Hunter scored 26 points, dished out five assists, and had five steals, and Garden City blasted the 18^th-ranked Grizzlies, 94-64 Wednesday night at Conestoga Arena.

"For us to come out and play like we did against that good of an opponent, says a lot about this team," Morosco said afterwards. "A lot of the credit goes to our fans, and our student section. This place was rocking, and we fed off that energy."

After dropping five out of six, Garden City has turned things around, winning three straight games for the first time since mid-November. And there has been a common theme: over the last three games, the Broncbusters have forced 87 turnovers.

"That's a big-time win," Morosco stated. "Our defense opened everything up."

Garden City trailed for only 2:25. Heru Bligen canned back-to-back jumpers, and Micah Octave swished a long 3-pointer to put the Broncbusters up five. That was followed with an absolute blitz. Bligen hit a layup, Hunter, Octave, and Bligen finished off three straight three-point plays, and Hunter connected from deep, capping off 22-2 run that put the Broncbusters up, 34-12 with 8:42 left in the half.

"It's very exciting because our guys have bought into how we're playing," Morosco said. "Our style has been extremely disruptive. And I think these guys sent a message to the rest of the country."

Garden City was up 23 at the half and led by as many as 34 in the second after Riny Lual finished off a 15-0 surge with a floater over two defenders in the paint to make it 94-60 with 1:24 remaining.

Hunter finished 7-of-12 from the floor in 35 minutes for Garden City. Bligen chipped in 17 points and four steals, and Mohamed Diarra tallied 17 points and 10 boards.

Marque English paced Butler with 17 points and four rebounds.

Next up: Garden City at Hutchinson-Saturday, Jan. 15-7:30 p.m.