OFFENSIVE SLUMBER COSTLY AS DRAGONS FALL TO SAINTS

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

For the second-straight game, a second-half offensive dry spell did in the Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team on Saturday against Seward County at the Sports Arena.

The Blue Dragons scored only four points over a 6 1/2 minute stretch of the second half and the Saints took advantage, holding off Hutchinson in a 53-48 Jayhawk Conference battle.

Hutchinson is now 6-4 overall and 1-3 in the KJCCC. The Blue Dragons travel to No. 15 Barton at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday in Great Bend. Seward County is now 7-3 and 2-2 in the league.

The Blue Dragons trailed 34-33 after a Bobby Cannon field goal with 13:59 remaining in the second half. Over the next 5:45, the Blue Dragons were outscored 12-4 to build a nine-point lead. Seward then extended the lead to double figures to 10 at 49-39 on an RJ McKinnie basket with 5:34 to play.

Hutchinson fought back with a 9-0 run and pulled within 49-48 after two Cannon free throws with 59 seconds to play. Those were the last points scored by the Dragons. Seward County was 4 for 4 at the free-throw line in the final minute to secure the victory.

Cannon led the Blue Dragons with 19 point on 8 of 13 shooting, which included a 3-point goal. Cannon added six rebounds and two assists.

Chudier Dorar was next for the Dragons with seven points. Dorar had six rebounds and three blocked shots.

Kyrell Shaw had six points, while Asher Boney and Anthony Alston had five points each.

The Blue Dragon suffered 14 season statistical lows in the game and it was the first time in 680 games the Dragons failed by break 50 points in a game.

The Dragons shot 46.7 percent (21 of 45), going only 3 of 16 from 3-point range and 3 of 6 from the free-throw line. The Dragons were out-rebounded 32-25 and suffered 16 turnovers.

McKinnie led the Saints with 14 points. Lucas N'Gombo had nine points.

Seward County shot 34.0 percent (18 of 53), but hit 11 of 24 from 3-point range to do its offensive damage. Seward was 6 of 8 from the foul line.

The Dragons' largest lead in the game was five points at 13-8. The Dragons trailed 26-23 at halftime.

GAME NOTES – The last time the Dragons didn't score 50 points in a game was February 19, 2005 in an 81-48 loss to Barton. … Seward County got its first win in the Sports Arena since 2019. … The Dragons are 88-32 all-time against Seward County, including 51-7 at the Arena. … The loss snapped a 12-game win streak over the Saints. … This was the third time this season to allow 10 or more 3-pointers to an opponent. … Chudier Dorar had his seventh game of three or more blocks.