The Butler Grizzlies upended the Barton Cougars 111-103 Saturday in the Region 6/Plains District Tournament championship at the Fleske Fieldhouse to clinch an automatic bid for the 2026 NJCAA Basketball Tournament.

The Grizzlies outscored the Cougars 74-55 after halftime, the Cougars' worst defensive half of the season.

The Cougars (24-9) will play the New Mexico Thunderbirds (26-6) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Hutchinson Sports Arena. The winner plays No. 2 seed Southern Idaho (31-2) at 2:30 p.m. March 23.  

The Cougars were regular season co-Jayhawk Conference champions along with the runner-up Region 6 finish. Barton was seeded as the third to last at-large entry, just ahead of Daytona State, Fla. and New Mexico.

Barton's Aris Rodriguez entered the program's career top-10 scoring list, pouring in a game-high 37 points to raise his career total to 1,065 while connecting on 11-of-23 shooting and 12-of-14 at the free-throw line and grabbing nine rebounds.

Noah Williams added 20 points and eight rebounds, Jon Byrd contributed 13 points and 11 rebounds for his first collegiate double-double while distributing a game-high five assists. 

Majok Chuol finished with 12 points and six rebounds as Rucker scored 12 points off the bench. Sebastian Muchitsch, the Cougars' leading rebounder, finished with two points before missing the final 20 minutes after being held out as an injury precaution.

Tristan Hankins led Butler with 35 points and 13 rebounds, including nine offensive boards. Kerr added 18 points, Combs finished with 17, and Josiah Kirkwood chipped in 13 points.

The Cougars built a 14-point cushion in the first half. Barton answered Butler's early 3-point shooting with interior production and transition offense, getting balanced contributions from Rodriguez, Chuol and Blake Rucker while leading 48-37 at halftime. Brian Sullivan buried a 3-pointer with eight seconds left to send Barton to the locker room in front 48-37.

Momentum shifted as the Grizzlies capitalized on offensive rebounds, forced Barton into turnovers, and connected on timely 3-pointers. Butler took the lead for good on Tim Walker 3-pointer at the 9-minute mark during a 10-1 stretch.

The Cougars worked within 79-76 and 82-79, but Butler answered. Hankins converted at the free-throw line, and Jaise Combs delivered a key three-pointer with 4:48 left to stretch the Grizzlies' lead to eight. Barton could get no closer than five the rest of the way as Butler closed out the victory in a second half marred by five technical fouls.

Butler shot 345%, but the Grizzlies collected 26 offensive rebounds, forced 19 Barton turnovers, and turning those miscues into a 21-4 advantage in points off turnovers. 

Butler finished with 24 more field-goal attempts than Barton and held a 21-13 edge in second-chance points, overcoming Barton's 52-38 advantage in paint scoring and 31-7 edge in fastbreak points.

Butler 37 74—111

Barton 48 55—103

BUTLER (24-9)—Hankins 10-22 (2-9) 13-17 35; Kerr 6-10 (4-7) 2-2 18; Combs 5-13 (4-10) 3-3 17; Kirkwood 4-11 (0-4) 5-7 13; Brown 3-14 (1-11) 2-2 9; Jones 0-5 (0-2) 0-0 0; Walker 2-6 (2-4) 0-0 6; Pleasants 1-7 (0-2) 7-10 9; Jerome 2- 0-0 4; Williams (0-1) 0-0 0; Totals  33-95 (13-50) 32-41 111

BARTON (24-9)—Rodriguez 11-23 (3-10) 12-14 3; Noah Williams 6-13 (1-4) 7-7 20; Byrd 4-10 5-7 13; Rucker 3-7 (1-4) 5-7 12; Chuol 5-6 2-4 10; Muchitsch 1-2 (0-1) 0-0 2; Ramirez 0-2 2-2 2; Mikey Williams 0-1 0-0 0; Sullivan, Jr. 2-7 (1-2) 0-2 5; Totals 32-71 (6-21) 33-43 103 

Rebounds—Butler 55 (Hankins 13), Barton 52 (Byrd 11). Assists—Butler 16 (Hankins 4); Barton 13 (Byrd 5). Steals—Butler 9 (Combs 2); Barton 7 (N. Williams 2). TO—Butler 13, Barton 19. Technicals—Butler, Walker, team; Barton, Rucker, team 2

The 17th ranked Barton Community College men's basketball team received an at-large bid and the No. 15 seed for the 2026 Credit Union 1 NJCAA Division I National Tournament, as announced during the NJCAA Division I Selection Show late this afternoon.

The KJCCC regular season co-champion Cougars take a 24-9 record into the tournament's opening day, facing fellow at-large selection and 18th seeded New Mexico Junior College (26-6) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, March 22.

Barton, which leads the NJCAA in both free throws attempted and made, compiled an impressive résumé throughout the season, going 4-2 against ranked competition, 5-1 against the top four teams in the KJCCC standings, and 8-2 against the conference's top six squads. The Cougars carried a 12-game winning streak into the Region 6/Plains District Championship game before falling to No. 19 Butler.

New Mexico, making its first national tournament in over a decade, features a tall and athletic roster, ranking among the NJCAA's top five in three-point attempts and turnovers forced. The Thunderbirds own notable victories over top-seeded Howard College and 12th seeded South Plains College, along with early season wins over Barton's Region 6 counterparts Fort Hays Tech Northwest (by 13 points), Pratt (39), and Seward County (13), as well as a 24-point victory over common opponent NOC-Tonkawa.

Barton most recently made its fourth straight appearance in the Region 6/Plains District Championship game, coming up short against Butler after defeating the Grizzlies twice during the regular season. The lone other Region 6 representative in the national field, Butler received the No. 8 seed and a first-round bye, advancing directly to Tuesday's 12:00 p.m. contest against the winner of ninth seeded Snow College and 24th seeded Trinidad State College.

In the tournament's win-or-go-home format, a Barton victory Saturday would advance the Cougars to Monday's 2:30 p.m. second-round matchup against second seeded College of Southern Idaho (31-2).

Barton's Game Schedule (Win-or-go-home format):
Saturday – 2:30 p.m. (First Round)
Monday – 2:30 p.m. (Second Round)
Wednesday – 2:30 p.m. (Quarterfinals)
Friday – 8:00 p.m. (Semifinals)
Saturday – 3:00 p.m. (Championship)

All 2026 Tournament games are being streamed live via ESPN+, with the Championship game available on ESPNU. *Streaming service and/or subscription required.

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION:
Official NJCAA Championship website: https://www.njcaa.org/championships/sports/mbkb/div1/index
Tickets: https://www.njcaa.org/tickets
- Note: Higher seed is the home team and will be seated on the east bench
- $83 All-Session

- $17 Session2026 NJCAA, HUTCHINSON

1 Howard, Texas Hawks (29-4) vs winner 16 Jones, Miss. Bobcats (24-9) vs 17 Daytona State, Fla. Falcons (26-7), 12 SATURDAY

8 Butler Grizzlies (24-9) vs winner 9 Snow, Utah Badgers (28-4)'vs 24 Trinidad State, Colo. Trojans (17-16),  12 SUNDAY

4 Trinity Valley, Texas Cardinals (28-5) vs winner 13 Monroe, N.Y. Mustangs (27-4) vs 20 Mineral Area, Mo. Cardinals (21-11), 5:30 SATURDAY

5 Chipola, Fla. Indians (26-7) vs winner 12 South Plains, Texas Texans (24-7) vs 21 Northern Oklahoma Enid Jets (20-13), 5:30 SUNDAY

2 Southern Idaho Golden Eagles (31-2) vs winner 15 Barton Cougars (24-9) vs 18 New Mexico Thunderbirds (26-6), 2:30 SATURDAY

7 Midland, Texas Chaparrals (27-6) vs winner 10 Walters State, Tenn. Senators (27-1) vs 23 South Georgia State Hawks (23-10), 2:30 SUNDAY

3 Indian Hills, Iowa Warriors (30-2) vs winner 14 Gulf Coast State, Fla. Eagles (25-7) vs 19 Brunswick Dolphins (28-5), 8 P.M. SATURDAY

6 Vincennes, Ind. Trailblazers (31-2) vs winner 11 Northwest Florida Raiders (25-7) vs 22 Bishop State Wildcats (17-15), 8 P.M. SUNDAY 

JAYHAWK MEN

Barton 17-7 24-9

Butler 17-7 24-9

Dodge City 16-8 20-11

Coffeyville 15-9 21-10

Cowley 13-11 20-13

Seward 13-11 20-13

Independence 13-11 15-16

Garden City 12-12 17-14

Cloud 12-12 18-14

Hays NW 10-14 16-16

Hutchinson 9-15 14-17

Colby 5-19 7-24

Pratt 4-20 7-22

REGION 6 CHAMIONSHIP—Butler 111, Barton 103; SEMIFINALS—Barton 102, Seward 83; Butler 105, Cowley 104; QUARTERFINALS—Barton 96, Cloud 95; Seward 84, Coffeyville 75; Butler 101, Hays NW 87; Cowley 76, Dodge City 69; FIRST ROUND—Cloud 86, Garden City 66; Seward 82, Colby 66; Hays NW 76, Independence 74; Cowley 61, Hutchinson 60