Hutchinson CC Sports Information
The No. 8-ranked Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team lost its first game at home this season as the Dodge City Conquistadors rallied from eight points down to upset the Blue Dragons 72-70 on Saturday night at the Sports Arena.
The Blue Dragons led 58-50 with 8:18 to play in the fourth quarter and then faltered down the stretch. The Blue Dragons went without a field goal for more than 8 minutes and missed 6 of 8 free throws in the final six minutes. Dodge City outscored Hutchinson 22-12 over the final 8 minutes to snap a nine-game losing streak.
The Blue Dragons fall to 14-3 overall and 10-3 in the Jayhawk Conference. Now 2-2 since returning from the Christmas break, the Dragons fall out of first place in the league and trails Barton by one game.
Hutchinson trailed the entire first half as Dodge City built a 36-28 lead by halftime. The 28 points were the second-fewest points scored in a half by the Blue Dragons this season.
The Blue Dragons opened the second half on a 27-8 run in the first 10 minutes of the second half to lead 55-46 with 10:25 to go in the game. When Curtis Hollis scored with 8:18 to play, Hutch led 58-50. That was Hutch's final field goal until the 20-mark.
Sophomore J.J. Rhymes recorded his fourth career 30-point game, scoring a game-high 30 points on 10 of 19 shooting. He was 9 of 14 from the foul line.
Sophomore Devonte Bandoo had 10 points, six rebounds and four assists. Robert Whitfield had eight points.
The Blue Dragons were 26 of 68 shooting for the game (38.2 percent), hitting 3 of 9 from 3-point range and just 15 of 31 from the foul line, just 9 of 20 in the second half. The Dragons were out-rebounded 48-38.
Dodge City shot 28 of 59 (47.5 percent), going 6 of 17 from 3-point range and 10 of 20 from the foul line. The Conquistadors had 23 turnovers.
Tajae Anderson scored 21 points to lead Dodge City. Justis Dixon had 13 points and Jyrus Freels had 10 points and 16 rebounds.