By:Patrick Hall Saturday, 1 March, 2008

The PCC Men's Basketball Team again used some late game heroics by Carlin Whitten to get by the Butler Grizzlies and earn the seventh seed in next week's Jayhawk Conference playoffs. Trailing by one with only four seconds left, Carlin Whitten hit a baseline jumper to give the Beavers a one point, 66-65 victory.

The game was tied at 30 at halftime, as neither team could put together a sustained offensive effort. Pratt continued to struggle early in the second half, allowing Butler to build a nine point lead. But with 8 minutes remaining, Pratt went on a 12-0 run, taking a 51-48 advantage.

Butler got back up by five on back-to-back threes. With 4.14 left, the score was 59-54 for the Grizzlies. Then Collins, Rivas, and Whitten all scored to put Pratt back on top with 1:33 left.

Butler came back with another two to take a 63-62 lead, but Rivas answered right back with 37 seconds remaining. Butler hit another, then Whitten missed a lay-up, Pratt rebounded and Butler knocked it out of bounds. Pratt had 13.8 seconds to fashion a scoring opportunity, and they gave the ball to their money man, Carlin Whitten. The investment in faith paid off again, as Whitten hit his jumper with 3.3 left. Butler missed their desperation.

Alex Rivas-Sanchez was the leading scorer with 19. He also led all rebounders with 12. Will Collins was right behind him with 18 points. Whitten had 12 of his 14 points in the second half. Pratt hit 38 percent from the field, but only 19 percent of their threes.

Pratt will travel to Independence to take on the East #2 seed on Wednesday. Game time will be announced late Sunday afternoon.