DRAGONS MOVE TO 8-0 WITH VICTORY OVER HESSTON

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Freshman Josh Baker posted the second 20-point game this season to lead the No. 4 Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team to an 8-0 record on Tuesday night.

Baker had a team-high 21 points to lead another balanced offensive attack as the Blue Dragons defeated Hesston College for the 17th consecutive time after an 87-53 victory over the Larks at the Sports Arena.

The Blue Dragons will now have eight days off before opening the Jayhawk Conference season on Wednesday, November 27 against Jayhawk East favorite, No. 19 Coffeyville, at the Sports Arena. Hesston falls to 3-5.

Hutchinson is now 17-0 all-time against Hesston.

Baker hit back-to-back shots, one a 3-pointer, in the middle stages of the first half to help the Dragons tie, and then take the lead for good at 14-11 with 13:20 to play in the opening half. Baker hit three first-half 3-pointers. Baker was 9 of 14 shooting overall and also grabbed four rebounds.

Baker led three Blue Dragons in double figures.

Sophomore Saquan Singleton was close to a second triple-double in a span of a week with 12 points on 6 of 7 shooting. Singleton, who earlier in the day was named the Jayhawk Conference Division I Player of the Week, also had eight rebounds and nine assists. This was Singleton's third game of nine or more assists this season.

Sophomore Fred Odhiambo scored a season-high with 10 points and finished with six rebounds. D.J. Mitchell and Josh Ursery had nine points each. Clarence King had eight points.

Hutchinson shot 49.3 percent (35 of 71) overall, hitting 5 of 21 from 3-point range, all five treys came in the first half. The Dragons were also 12 of 15 from the free-throw line. Hutchinson out-rebounded Hesston 50-29, outscoring the Larks 25-8 in second-chance points.

The Larks were limited to 30.6 percent shooting (19 of 62), going 10 of 29 from 3-point range and 5 of 7 from the foul line. The Larks had 19 turnovers to Hutchinson's 14.

Jacob Baker hit 6 of 11 3-pointers and finished with 24 points for to lead Hesston.

The Blue Dragons shot 58.1 percent (18 of 31) to build a 42-25 lead at halftime. The Dragons trailed 11-9 with 13:58 left. Baker's jumpers sparked an 11-0 run over the next 3 ½ minutes to lead 20-11 after a Mitchell transition layup with 10:54 remaining in the half.

Outscoring Hesston 22-6 in the paint, the Dragons built a 42-25 lead on a King drive to the hoop in the final second of the first half.

Hutch outscored Hesston 14-4 over the first six minutes of the second half to build a 56-29 lead after a Baker shot in the paint with 14:04 to go. Hutchinson's largest lead of the game was 34 points at 85-51 after a Jaden Okon jump shot.