BLUE DRAGONS FALL SHORT AT FORT HAYS TECH NORTHWEST

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

GOODLAND – Trailing by as many as 16 points early in the second half, the Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team's rally at Fort Hays Tech Northwest fell one point short on Wednesday.

The Blue Dragons got three key defensive stops in the final minute, but their rally in the regular-season finale came up just short in a 75-74 loss to the Tigers at the Max Jones Fieldhouse.

The loss gives the Blue Dragons a 14-16 overall record 9-15 Jayhawk Conference record. The Blue Dragons will be the 11th overall seed for the Region 6 Tournament, which begins Saturday. Hutchinson travels to play Cowley on Saturday. Tip time will be announced on Thursday. Fort Hays Tech Northwest is 15-15 overall and 10-14 in the KJCCC.

The Blue Dragons dug a 14-point first-half hole, trailing 35-21 with 3:53 remaining in the half. Led by sophomore Dilen Miller off the bench, the Dragons stayed within striking distance and trailed 45-35 at halftime.

The Dragons trailed 51-35 with 18:28 to play in the second half. Hutchinson rallied and finally took a 58-57 lead on an Asher Boney field goal with 12:13 to play in the second half. Later Bobby Cannon banked in a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 5:30 remaining that gave the Blue Dragons a 69-68 lead.

Fort Hays Tech Northwest hit 11 3-pointers offensively and had seven blocked shots – six from Marquintez Dixon – to ultimately defeat the Dragons.

The Dragons had three chances in the final minute to take the lead after defensive stops, but couldn't cash in on the offensive end.

Sophomore Dilen Miller had a career game off the bench to lead the Blue Dragon comeback. He scored 19 of his career-high 25 points in the first half. Miller was 7 of 15 overall with a career-high five 3-pointers on eight attempts and 6 of 8 at the free-throw line. Miller had a personal 10-0 run in the first half that sparked the Hutchinson comeback.

Cannon had 14 points for the Blue Dragons. Anthony Alston had 11 points and Kordell Williams had 10 points.

The Blue Dragons finished shooting 39-1 percent (25 of 64), hitting 11 of 27 3-pointers and 13 of 15 from the free-throw line. The Dragons out-rebounded the Tigers 32-27.

Da'King Smith hit 4 of 7 3-pointers and led the Tigers with 13 points. Kuet Gatwech also had 13 points for the Tigers.

Fort Hays Tech Northwest shot 40.3 percent (25 of 62), hitting 11 of 30 from 3-point range and 14 of 20 from the free-throw line.

Tech jumped out to a 14-5 lead in the first 5:39 of the game. Eight straight points by Miller, which included two 3-pointers, pulled the Dragons within 14-13, but the Tigers hit three straight 3-pointers and went on a 15-3 run to lead 29-17.

After the Dragons trailed 51-35 early in the second half, Alston started the rally with a 3-pointers, which started an 18-3 run to pull within 54-53 on a Cannon 3-pointer with 14:09 to play.

GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons have lost three straight to Fort Hays Tech Northwest and are now 16-4 all-time against the Tigers. … Marquintez Dixon's six blocked shots are an opponent season high against the Blue Dragons this season. … The Dragons are 5-8 in true road games this season. … With four blocked shots on Wednesday, Bobby Cannon now has 98 career blocks, which his ninth on the Blue Dragon career blocked shot list. … Dilen Miller is the sixth different Blue Dragon to have a 20-poitn game this season.