Hutchinson CC Sports Information
The No. 1-ranked Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team shot better than 53 percent and four players scored in double figures as the Blue Dragons opened the 2017-18 season with a 102-56 victory over the Friends University Junior Varsity on Wednesday at the Sports Arena.
Friends hit the first shot of the game, a 3-pointers 27 seconds into the game. The Blue Dragons then held them scoreless for the next 4 minutes 59 seconds and scored 14 unanswered to break the game open.
Hutchinson had to overcome the 11 Falcon 3-pointers, but led 55-31 at halftime and outscored Friends 47-25 in the final 20 minutes.
The Blue Dragons hit 42 of 79 field goals (53.2 percent), hitting 4 of 15 from 3-point range and 14 of 21 from the free-throw line.
Hutch held the Falcons to 39.6 percent (21 of 53). Friends hit 11 of 27 from 3-point range. The Dragons out-rebounded Friends 48-22 with 22 offensive rebounds. The Blue Dragons forced 22 Friends turnovers.
Sophomores J.J. Rhymes and Devonte Bandoo led four Blue Dragons in double figures with 15 points each. Rhymes added a career-high seven assists. Sophomore Kai Mitchell had 12 points and freshman Curtis Hollis had 10 points.
The Blue Dragons were very balanced. Robert Whitfield and Rheaquone Taylor had nine points each. James Rojas and Josh Creach added eight points each.
Bryant Rogers had 15 points, hitting 3 of 6 3-pointers. Jackson Oldham hit four 3-pointers and finished with 12 points.
The Blue Dragons face two good weekend tests this weekend at the Sports Arena. Hutchinson will play NJCAA Division II No. 1 North Lake at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and NEO at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.
GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons captured their 11th-consecutive season opening victory and improved to 69-19 in season openers. The Dragons are 74-14 in home openers. … The Dragons out-scored Friends 72-12 in points in the paint, 29-6 off turnovers, 29-0 in second-chance points and 29-5 in fastbreak points.