The NOC Mavs fell to Butler (KS) 93-84 on Tuesday in the NOC Tonkawa home opener at Foster-Piper Fieldhouse.
NOC Tonkawa (0-3) was led by Benji Nelson with 19 points while Jace Breath added 18.
Xon Williams added 14 off the Maverick bench while Boxy Wallace had 13.
Butler jumped out to a 36-24 first half lead before the Mavs rallied to within 42-41 at half.
The teams traded leads in the second half before the Grizzilies broke open a 67-67 tie with an 19-9 run to build a 86-76 lead.
NOC would get no closer than eight the rest of the way.
Jack Riley and Brandon Domsch led the Mavs on the boards with seven each. Nelson and Breath each had three asssits and two steals.
NOC is in Garden City, Kansas for games against Garden City on Friday and Dodge City on Saturday.
Butler 93, Mavs 84
1 2--Total
Butler 42 51-- 93
Mavs 41 43 --84
Mavs -- B. Nelson 19, J. Breath 18, X. Williams 14, B. Wallace 13, J. Riley 7, B. Domsch 6, K. Shaw 4, K. Lewis 3.
