Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The No. 9-ranked Hutchinson Community College won its 11th consecutive season opener as the Blue Dragons rolled to a 99-62 victory over Northeast Community College on Friday night at the Sports Arena.

The Blue Dragons are now 68-19 all-time in season openers and 75-12 in home openers. The Blue Dragons won a season opener for the 21st time in the last 22 openers dating back to the 1996-97 season.

Hutchinson is now 7-0 all-time against Northeast and on Friday night administered the largest margin of victory over the Hawks in series history at 37 points. The previous largest blowout was 21 points.

Offensively the Blue Dragons placed six players in double figures while shooting 47.7 percent from the field. The Dragons owned a 53-30 rebounding advantage, including 23-6 on the offensive glass and Hutch turned the ball over just nine times.

Defensively, the Dragons held Northeast to 39.6 percent shooting and forced 26 turnovers. The Dragons held advantages of 38-9 in points off turnovers, 26-2 in second-chance points and 66-22 in the paint.

Freshman Malique Jacobs came off the bench to tie for game-high scoring honors with 16 points on 8 of 14 shooting. He had team highs of four assists and three steals. D.J. Mitchell also came off the bench to score 15 points, including 3 of 6 from 3-point range. Overall, the Blue Dragons held a 58-15 advantage off the bench.

Sophomore Rheaquone Taylor scored 13 points and had seven rebounds. Sophomore James Rojas hit 5 of 7 shots to scored 11 points with three assists.

Freshman Saquan Singleton finished with 10 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Tyler Brown also had 10 points.

Freshman center Fred Odihambo had eight points and had a game-high 16 rebounds, which ties for 31st on the Blue Dragon single-game rebounds list. Odihambo also blocked three shots.

Hutchinson hit 42 of 88 total shots, going 6 of 17 from 3-point range and 9 of 17 from the free throw line.

Northeast was 21 of 53 shooting with 8 of 26 from 3-point range and 12 of 22 from the foul line. Moses Byekwaso had 16 points and Daniel Akuei had 11 points.

Hutchinson trailed 12-11 with 13:58 to play in the first half and then scored six in a row and 15 of the next 20 points to lead 26-17 after a Taylor jumper with 8:08 to go. The Hawks got back within five points three different times, the last at 30-25 with 4:14 left. Hutch then closed the half on a 16-8 run to lead 46-32 at halftime.

The Dragons opened their first 20-point lead with 14:26 left after a Singleton steal and layup with 14:36 left in the second half at 59-38. It reached 30 points when Josh Perkins scored with 9:28 to go to give the Dragons a 74-43 lead.

Hutchinson outscored Northeast 53-30 in the second half.

The Blue Dragons will be right back in action on Saturday against NEO at 7:30 p.m. at the Sports Arena. NEO defeated the Tabor JV 89-64 on Friday. Northeast plays Tabor at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.