Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team meets one of its biggest rivals in a Top 15 national matchup on Wednesday at the Sports Arena.

Now up to No. 14 in the NJCAA Division I national rankings, the Blue Dragons (14-2, 9-1 Jayhawk Conference) play host to the No. 6-ranked Barton Cougars (15-1, 9-1) at 7:30 p.m.

The game will be broadcast on Blue Dragon flagship station KHUT-FM (102.9) and sister stations KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5) beginning at 7:15 p.m. with Glen Grunwald (PBP) and Dan Naccarato (color) calling the action. The game will be steamed on the Blue Dragon Sports Network beginning at 7:15 p.m.

The last time the Blue Dragons and Cougars met with both teams inside the Top 15 of the NJCAA national rankings was February 14, 2018 when Hutchinson was No. 14 and Barton No. 10. The teams met as ranked teams in the first meeting last season - Hutchinson was No. 9 and Barton was No. 21.

The Blue Dragons open a rare conference three-game homestand on Wednesday. After the battle with the Cougars, Hutchinson takes on high-scoring Garden City on Saturday and then will open the second half of the Jayhawk Conference season with Dodge City on Wednesday, January 24. The Blue Dragons are 9-1 at the Sports Arena this season.

Hutchinson improved to 5-0 in true road games this season after last Saturday's 92-78 victory at Coffeyville.

Sophomore Kamryn Thomas keyed a 26-6 first-half run that broke the game open. The Blue Dragons led 53-30 at halftime. Thomas finished with five 3-pointers and a career-high 25 points, while Valentino Simon had a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. J.P. Ricks broke out of a brief scoring slump with 21 points and six assists. The Blue Dragons shot 56.3 percent against the Red Ravens, marking the third-straight game they have shot 50 percent or better.

Since returning from the holiday break, the Blue Dragons have been strong defensively allowing only 59.0 points and 40.3 percent shooting over the last four games.

Barton has reeled off six consecutive victories and are 9-1 in its last 10 games.

Myles Thompson has 21 points on 9 of 13 shooting to lead Barton to a 95-75 KJCCC victory over Dodge City on Saturday at Great Bend. The Cougars shot 54.1 percent for the game and had 46 points in the paint to Dodge City's 22.

Wednesday's matchup will be the 124th in series history that started in 1970. The Blue Dragons own a 91-32 series advantage. Barton has won the last three games in the series.