Tigers trim Bears

In a slow-paced, deliberate game, the Nevada Tigers outlasted the Butler Bears 45-38 at Nevada's Wynn Gymnasium on Monday.

Butler pulled into the first tie since the opening tip at 27-27 with about a minute left in the third period.

Senior Ty Holmes hit a short jumper to break the stalemate, then freshman guard Bryan Campbell took over.

Campbell drove the lane for a twisting layin at the buzzer to stake the Tigers to a 31-27 advantage, before reeling off Nevada's first eight points of the fourth quarter to keep the Bears at bay.

"He (Campbell) has played unreal over the last couple of weeks," said Nevada coach John McNeley. "He's gotten more comfortable and looks like he fits in and better understands what we want him to do. He's an awful nice player."

The Tigers' leading scorer Matt Davis, who had a game-high 17 points, hit a field goal and 3-of-4 free throws in the waning seconds to secure the victory and break a three-game losing streak.

Nevada (4-5), in its first action since the holiday break, led 10-4 after the first quarter and took a 22-18 lead at the half.

Davis' 10 first-half points paced the Tigers.

Campbell finished with 12 points, while Holmes added 11, including three of Nevada's four 3-pointers. The top three scorers accounted for 40 of the Tigers' total.

On the defensive end, the Tigers' zone was efficient against Butler, who fell to 4-5.

"I thought, defensively, we were a little bit better," said McNeley, of the Tigers' effort. "I thought we were scrappier."

The Tigers ability to stay away from foul trouble was also a key.

Butler recorded 20 fouls to nine for Nevada, which translated into a nine-point edge from the free-throw line. The Tigers hit 11 of 19, while Butler went to the line only twice, hitting both.

Matthew Ward, a sharpshooting guard, topped the Bears with 16 points, 12 from 3-point range. Chance Hedrick added six and four other Bears chipped in with four each.

The Tigers host district foe Warrensburg on Saturday at 6 p.m. in junior varsity and varsity matchups.

JV game

The Nevada junior varsity edged Butler, coached by former Bronaugh girls coach Thad Lundine, 35-32.

In a low-scoring, close contest throughout, the two squads were tied 13-13 at the half.

Nevada inched ahead 27-25 going into the final quarter.

Hanging onto a slim one-point lead late in the fourth quarter, Nevada sophomore Logan Moore stepped to the line and calmly sank two from the charity stripe to salt away the win with 7.4 seconds remaining.

Moore led the Tigers with 17 points, including their only two treys. Sophomore Eric Good added six and junior Brock Hammett four.

* The Nevada Lady Tigers, the second seed, defeated No. 5-seed Mt. Vernon 63-53 in first-round action at the Carthage Lady Tiger Invitational on Monday.

Nevada meets Joplin on Thursday at 6 p.m.