BLUE DRAGONS EXPLODE AGAINST BLUEJAYS
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
HILLSBORO – The No. 1-ranked Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team completed the non-conference portion of its schedule Tuesday night with a massive offensive outburst.
Seven different players scored in double figures as the Blue Dragons set numerous modern-day statistical records in a 125-61 victory over the Tabor College Junior Varsity at the Tabor Gymnasium.
The Blue Dragons improve to 4-0 entering Saturday's Jayhawk Conference opener at Seward County. Tabor falls to 0-3.
Sophomore Tiylar Cotton led the Blue Dragons' impressive offensive performance with a career-high 23 points. Cotton was a perfect 7 of 7 shooting and all seven shots were 3-pointers.
Cotton's performance helped the Blue Dragons achieve the following:
+ The 125 points scored was the ninth most in single-game history.
+ The 64-point margin of victory is the 10th largest in single-game history.
The Blue Dragons broke the following modern day statistical records:
+ Field-goal percentage – 67.6 percent
+ Total field goals – 50
+ 3-point field goals – 13 (tied the record with 13 vs. Central Nebraska in 2012).
+ Assists – 35
The Blue Dragons hit 50 of 74 shots from the field, going 13 of 23 from 3-point range and 12 of 17 from the free-throw line. The Dragons out-rebounded Tabor 47-30 and limited themselves to just 10 turnovers.
Sophomore J.J. Rhymes was 9 of 12 shooting with three 3-pointers in a season-high 22-point output that included six assists and five rebounds.
Freshman Curtis Hollis had 15 points, six rebounds and three steals.
Freshman Rheaquon Taylor posted his first career double-double with 14 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.
Sophomore Devonte Bandoo had 12 points, while sophomore Sal Nuhu and freshman Josh Creach added 10 points each.
Tabor was held to 33.8 percent shooting (23 of 68), but went 8 of 31 from 3-point range and 7 of 16 from the free-throw line. The Bluejays turned the ball over 18 times,
Preston Loewen led Tabor with nine points on three 3-point goals.
Hutchinson hit eight first-half 3-pointers and shot 66.7 percent from the field in the first half to build a 65-26 lead at halftime. The Dragons produced scoring runs of 17-3, 16-4 and 14-2 in the opening half.
The Blue Dragons reached the 100-point mark with 7:04 to play in the game when Anthony Munson hit a 15-footer.
Tuesday's game was the first of four in a row away from the Sports Arena. The Blue Dragons open conference play with road games at Seward County, Cloud County and Pratt before turning to the Sports Arena on November 21 to take on Coffeyville.
GAME NOTES – The last time the Blue Dragons reached 125 or more points in a game was Nov. 27, 1997 in a 129-74 victory over Olive-Harvey College. … Hutch's bench produced 71 points. … Hutch's largest lead was 66 points (125-59).