COLBY’S HOT SHOOTING DOOMS BLUE DRAGONS

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

COLBY – The Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team allowed an opponent to shoot 50 percent or higher this season as the Colby Trojans blitzed the Blue Dragons on Saturday at the Colby Event Center.

Colby shot 53.6 percent and knocked down 10 3-point field goals as the Trojans defeated the Blue Dragons 89-79, snapping a nine-game Hutchinson win streak over Colby.

The Blue Dragons fell to 9-6 overall and 4-5 in the KJCCC. Hutchinson plays host to No. 18 Coffeyville at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Sports Arena.

Colby hit 30 of 56 overall shots, hitting 10 of 19 from 3-point range and 19 of 24 from the free-throw line. Giannis Asimakopulos knocked down 4 of 5 from 3-point range and finished with 21 points..

With the Blue Dragons leading 10-5, Colby hit a pair of 3-pointers in a 10-0 run to turn the game in Colby's favor. The Trojans hit six first-half 3-pointers and had leads as large as 15 points in the opening 20 minutes, taking a 44-35 lead over Hutchinson at halftime.

The Dragons trailed Colby 80-61 with 4:32 remaining and mounted a furious comeback that got Hutchinson back within five points (94-79) with 44 seconds remaining.

Sophomore Kyrell Shaw posted his second 30-point game of the season, scoring a game-high 32 points to lead the Blue Dragons. Shaw was 9 of18 shooting with three 3-pointers and 11 of 13 from the free-throw line. Shaw also had five rebounds.

Sophomore Daleron Thomas tied his season high with 20 points, hitting 6 of 11 from the floor and 7 of 10 from the foul line in his first Blue Dragon start.

Sophomore Bobby Cannon had 10 points for the Blue Dragons.

Hutchinson shot 46.9 percent (23 of 49), hitting 6 of 21 from 3-point range and 27 of 38 from the free-throw line. The Dragons were out-rebounded 33-26 and committed 13 turnovers.

Aliou Diallo had 17 points, while Nana Keutcha had 13 points and D.J. Cason had 12 points for Colby.

Shaw's 3-pointer with 15:31 to play in the first half gave the Dragons a 10-5 lead. Colby answered that initial surge with a 10-0 over the next 2:23 to take a 15-10 lead after a Cason 3-pointer.

The Dragons went without a field goal for 6 minutes, snapping that drought with a Jonathan Ogunfuye field goal in the lane that cut the Dragon deficit to 24-16. Five-straight points from Asimakopulos helped Colby build a 32-18 lead with 7:22 to play in the half.

Trailing 42-28 late in the first half, Shaw hit a 3-pointer to start a 7-0 run to cut the Colby lead to 42-35. The Trojans shot 51.7 percent and led 44-35 at halftime.

The Dragons made several small runs to pull within nine points twice and eight points once. Trailing 70-61, Hutchinson saw Colby go on a 10-0 run to build an 80-61 lead with 4:32 remaining. Kordell Williams hit a free throw with 4:19 left which started a 13-2 run. Asher Boney's free throw with 1:20 to go cut the Colby lead to 82-75.

After two Diallo free throws with 1:05 left, Thomas scored in the paint and then hit a jumper after a Trojan turnover with 44 seconds left to cut the Colby lead to 84-79. Colby finished the game hitting 4 of 5 free throws to close out the game.

GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons are now 59-7 all-time vs. Colby, including 26-5 in Colby. … This was the fourth time this season the Blue Dragons allowed 10 or more 3-pointers in a game. … The Blue Dragons have three 30-point games – two from Kyrell Shaw and one from Bobby Cannon. … The Dragons allowed opponent season highs of 89 points and 19 assists.