BLUE DRAGON MEN RETURN TO ACTION WEDNESDAY

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The No. 6 Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team will play its first game in 25 days on Wednesday with another in a string of crucial Jayhawk Conference matchups on Wednesday.

The first-place Blue Dragons (12-1, 8-1 Jayhawk) will travel to second-place Cowley (10-3, 7-2) for a 7:30 p.m. matchup at Scott Auditorium in Arkansas City. The game will be broadcast live on the Blue Dragon flagship station KHUT-FM (102.9) and on sister stations KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5) at 7:20 p.m. Glen Grunwald (play-by-play) and Rusty Hilst (analysis) will call the action. The game will also be streamed live on the Blue Dragon Sports Network at 7:20 p.m.

When last on the basketball court, the Blue Dragons extended their winning streak to seven games after defeating Barton 81-73 at the Sports Arena on December 9. Since losing in overtime at Cloud County on November 15 in Concordia, the Blue Dragons have won a shootout (109-100) at Pratt, pounded No. 14 Coffeyville (99-62) and completed the largest comeback in program history in an 82-81 win at Butler on December 6.

When the holiday break began, the Blue Dragons were alone in first place in the Jayhawk Conference with an 8-1 record. Barton, Coffeyville and Cowley are all tied for second at 7-2. Colby, Garden City and Seward County are all tied for fifth at 5-4.

Hutchinson is averaging 89.2 points per game and is shooting 48.2 percent from the field. Defensively, the Blue Dragons are allowing 67.8 points and 37.1 percent shooting.

Sophomore J.J. Rhymes leads the conference in scoring at 19.5 points per game. Other Dragons high in the league statistics are Rheaquone Taylor, who is third in field-goal percentage at 62.1 percent. Rob Whitfield leads the league in 3-point percentage at 51.2 percent.

Cowley, which also hasn't played since December 9, enters Wednesday's game on a three-game winning streak. The Tigers won at Dodge City 81-78 in their last game. Cowley has won its share of close games with their last six wins all coming by 10 or fewer points. Plus, the Tigers are 6-1 at Scott Auditorium this season.

Cowley ranks 11th scoring offense in the Jayhawk at 79.0 points per game. The Tigers are one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the KJCCC with 7.6 makes per game (3rd in KJCCC), shooting 32.2 percent from long range. Defensively, the Tigers are fifth in the league in points allowed (70.8 points), fourth in field-goal percentage (40.5 percent) and are fifth in blocked shots (5.5 per game).

Sophomore forward Darnell Cowart is Cowley's top scorer at 15.1 points per game while shooting 52.2 percent from the floor.

The Blue Dragons will return to the Sports Arena for the first time in 2018 on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. against the Allen Red Devils.