EL DORADO, Kan. - The KCKCC men's basketball team faced their second nationally-ranked opponent of the season Tuesday evening on the road, falling to No. 18 Butler CC 80-73. The Blue Devils made a late run to try and take the lead, but were unable to grab a hold of the Grizzlies and secure the win.

KCKCC is now 1-3 overall.

The first four minutes of play involved both teams trading baskets. Bradley Lightbourne and Jaylon Moses connected on two straight baskets - giving the Blue Devils a 10-9 lead before Butler hit a three-pointer to go up 12-10 at the 15:57 mark. Things remained close in the first half, and the Blue Devils cut the deficit to one point at 34-33 after Trasean White hit two free throws after a Butler foul. KCKCC would go scoreless over the final three minutes as the Grizzlies gained a 41-33 lead at the break.

Lightbourne and Jalen Broyles scored the first two baskets of the second half for the Blue Devils, but still trailed by nine points after Butler led 46-37. White and Lightbourne scored four straight points for KCKCC to cut the deficit to 49-43, but the Grizzlies eventually went up 19 points at 70-51 after a big run with 7:31 left. Gary Bess Jr., Lightbourne, and Jerry Maxinaud combined for a last-minute stretch run for the Blue Devils. However, the lead was too large for the squad to overcome as Butler remained in front.

Lightbourne and White each scored 16 points to lead KCKCC, while Moses pitched in 13. The Blue Devils also recorded double-digit steals in the game with Lightbourne adding five steals.

The Blue Devils will return to the court this weekend starting with Friday night at 8 p.m. against North Central Missouri College as part of the KCKCC Classic.