BLUE DRAGON MEN DROP LEAGUE OPENER AT COFFEYVILLE

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

COFFEYVILLE – The Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team's first foray into Jayhawk Conference play was a rough one on Wednesday at Coffeyville.

Trailing by five points at halftime, the Blue Dragons couldn't recover from an early second-half 10-3 run and fell behind by as many as 18 points in the second half. Ultimately, the No. 9 Blue Dragons dropped a 78-67 decision to No. 4 Coffeyville at Nellis Hall.

The Blue Dragons drop their first game of the season and fall to 9-1 overall and 0-1 in the Jayhawk West. The Dragons will play host to Independence in the conference home opener at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Sports Arena. Coffeyville improves to 8-1 overall and 1-0 in the Jayhawk East.

That early second-half run was the precursor to a dominant Coffeyville second half. The Red Ravens shot 60 percent in the second half (18 of 30), hitting 6 of 9 from 3-point range. The Blue Dragons couldn't stop Coffeyville guard Tevin Brewer, who had nine of his team-high 15 points in the second half. For the game, Brewer wat 5 of 5 from 3-point range. He also had five steals and six rebounds to lead the Ravens.

Hutchinson trailed 31-26 at halftime and had the deficit down to four at 37-33 after a Chris Giles' fastbreak layup with 17:08 to play in the second half. Four minutes later, the Ravens capped that 10-3 run with a Marvin Johnson dunk and Hutchinson trailed 47:37 with 13:18 to play.

The Dragons chipped away again and pulled within 52-46 after a Rheaquone Taylor jumper in the lane with 9:42 to go to cut the Coffeyville lead to 52-46. But Tony Hutson knocked down a 3-pointer for the Ravens. A couple of minutes later, Manny Crump hit a 3-pointer to give the Ravens a 63-48 lead with 7:47 to go.

Hutch's largest deficit was 18 at 70-52 with 4:51 to play.

The Blue Dragons were held to a season-low offensive output and shot 24 of 53 overall (45.3 percent). The Dragons were 4 of 13 from the 3-point line and just 15 of 30 from the foul line. The Dragons also committed 20 turnovers.

Four players scored in double figures for Hutchinson led by Giles' 12 points. Malique Jacobs came off the bench to add 11, while Taylor and James Rojas had 10 points each.

Coffeyville was 28 of 60 shooting (46.7 percent), but hit 11 of 22 3-pointers and 11 of 19 from the free-throw line. Coffeyville out-rebounded Hutch 36-35.

Crump finished with 11 points. Anthony Jones, Johnson and Hutson had nine points each.