Hutchinson CC Sports Information
GREAT BEND – The Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team trailed at halftime for the first time this season on Saturday at the Cougar Booster Club Classic at the Barton Gym.
The No. 7-ranked Blue Dragons responded by shooting 57.1 percent in the second half to rally past Iowa Western for a 91-70 victory.
The Blue Dragons improve to 7-0 and will play Hesston College at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the Sports Arena. Iowa Western, who is coached by former Blue Dragon assistant coach Michael Johnette, falls to 4-3.
The Blue Dragons led for most of the first half and had a nine-point lead at one point. With Hutchinson leading 35-30 with 2:38 to play in the first half, Iowa Western closed the half on a 10-3 run and took a 40-38 lead on a Josiah Strong 3-pointer with 35 seconds in the first half.
With Iowa Western still leading 46-43 early in the second half, the Dragons scored eight points in a span of 1 minute, 46 seconds. Josh Baker hit a 3-pointer with 16:28 to go, and then Tyler Brown hit a 3-pointer to give Hutchinson a 51-46 lead with 15:53 to play in the second half.
The Blue Dragons shot 57.1 percent in the second half (20 of 35), holding Iowa Western to 35.3 percent (12 of 34) and outscored the Reivers 53-30 in the final 20 minutes.
Six Blue Dragons scored in double figures led by 16-point efforts by both Josh Baker and Majok Kuath. Baker hit 4 of 6 3-pointers and added six rebounds. Kuath was 6 of 10 from the field to finish with 16 points.
Sanquan Singleton had a double-double with 11 points and a career-high 13 assists. Brown finished with 15 points. D.J. Mitchell and Matt Mayers had 10 points each.
The Blue Dragons were 34 of 67 from the field (50.7 percent), hitting 8 of 19 3-pointers and 15 of 23 from the free-throw line. Hutchinson out-rebounded Iowa Western 48-33.
Iowa Western was 26 of 63 (41.3 percent), going 8 of 25 from 3-point range and 10 of 17 from the line. Strong and Seneca Louis had 15 points each.