DRAGONS REACH CENTURY MARK IN WIN OVER ALLEN

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Sophomores J.J. Rhymes and Devonte Bandoo combined for 56 points and the No. 6-ranked Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team rebounded from Wednesday's loss at Cowley.

The Blue Dragons reached the century mark for the fourth time this season and earned their 17th-consecutive victory over the Allen Red Devils in a 103-75 Jayhawk Conference victory on Saturday at the Sports Arena, Hutchinson's first home game since December 9.

Hutchinson improves to 13-2 overall and maintains its share of first place in the Jayhawk Conference at 9-2. Allen falls to 5-10 and 3-8. The Blue Dragons travel to Independence on Wednesday.

Rhymes became the 22nd Blue Dragon in history to reach the 900 career-point plateau with a game-high 31-point effort against the Red Devils. Rhymes was 13 of 23 shooting and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line. Rhymes added five rebounds and four assists.

Bandoo poured in a career-high 25 points, hitting a career-best five 3-pointers in seven attempts. Bandoo just missed a double-double with nine rebounds.

Rheaquone Taylor was the only other Blue Dragon in double figures with 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists. James Rojas had eight points, while Kai Mitchell had seven points and a season-high 12 rebounds with six assists and a career-high-tying four blocked shots.

The Blue Dragons shot 52.6 percent overall (40 of 76), hitting 6 of 12 from long range and 17 of 23 from the free-throw line. The Dragons owned a 55-37 rebounding advantage and tied a season high for the third time this season with 10 blocked shots.

Tevin Townsend hit 4 of 7 from 3-point range to lead the Red Devils with 20 points. Tyler Williams had 12 and Jacob Patterson had 11 points.

Allen was 25 of 77 shooting overall (32.5 percent), hitting 7 of 32 from 3-point range, only 1 of 13 in the second half, and was 18 of 24 from the free-throw line.

The Blue Dragons scored the first five points of the game and never relinquished the lead.

Hutch built an 11-3 lead after a Rhymes drive to the hoop with 14:25 to play in the opening half. A 3-pointer by Jordan Marshall pulled Allen within 13-8 with 13:26 remaining. The lead dwindled to two at 16-14 before Mitchell hit a jumper in the lane with 10:04 to go in the half. Allen struck again from deep from Townsend to pull the Devils within 20-17 with 9:15 to go.

The Blue Dragons then went on an 11-0 run, getting five points from Bandoo in that stretch. Taylor's dunk with 6:15 to play gave Hutch a 31-17 lead.

Hutch led 43-27 when the Red Devils scored seven unanswered points fast to pull within 43-34 with 53 seconds remaining in the half. Two Sal Nuhu free throws with 33 seconds left gave the Dragons a 45-34 lead at halftime. The Dragons were 18 of 40 shooting to Allen's 10 of 40, but the Red Devils had six 3-pointers in the half.

The Blue Dragons started the second half on an 11-4 run to lead 56-38 after a Rhymes' inside bucket with 16:26 to go. Hutch finally got the lead to 20 points on another Rhymes basket with 13:42 remaining for a 63-42 lead. Allen got within 16 points twice after that, but Hutch closed on a 28-16 run over the final 7 minutes of the game. Hutchinson shot 61.1 percent in the final 20 minutes (22 of 36).

GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons are now 41-7 all-time against Allen. … The Dragons shoot 50 percent or better in a game for the seventh time this season. … The last time Hutch reached 100 points in a game was November 18 with 109 point at Pratt.