DRAGONS RALLY FROM EARLY DEFICIT TO DEFEAT ALLEN

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team survived an early Allen 3-point barrage and rallied from a 10-point deficit to earn a third consecutive victory.

Sophomore Stephan Gabriel scored a career-high 20 points and sophomore Matt Mayers posted his third double-double of the season to lead the Blue Dragons to an 80-62 come-from-behind victory over the Red Devils on Saturday night at the Sports Arena.

Hutchinson improves to 5-2 overall and 4-2 in the Jayhawk West. The Blue Dragons are on the road Wednesday at Cowley. Allen drops to 3-5 overall and 2-4 in the Jayhawk West.

The Red Devils hit four 3-pointers in the first 8 1/2 minutes of the game to build a 20-10 on an Ed Wright trey with 11:42 remaining. The Dragons hit 4 of their first 10 shots, but were plagued by four early turnovers.

Hutchinson quickly turned the tables after trailing 22-12. The Blue Dragons held the Red Devils scoreless for 3 minutes, 13 seconds and nearly pulled even with an 8-0 run capped by two Bryant Selebanque free throws with 8:21 to play in the half, pulling the Dragons within 22-20.

Trailing 29-23 with 5:44 to play in the first half, the Blue Dragons pulled even with 4:25 to play on a Gabriel layup, tying the game at 29. The Dragons grabbed the lead with 1:11 to play on two Majok Kuath free throws. Hutchinson led 37-34 at halftime.

The Blue Dragons shot 55.2 percent in the second half and held the Red Devils to 4 of 20 from behind the 3-point line after their quick start and outscored Allen 42-28 in the final 20 minutes.

Gabriel led the Blue Dragons with a career-high 20 points on 7 of 12 shooting and 6 of 9 from the free-throw line. Gabriel added eight rebounds and two steals in a season-high 28 minutes.

Mayers had his third double-double of the season with 19 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. Kuath added 14 points.

The Blue Dragons out-scored Allen 46-18 in the paint.

Hutchinson shot better than 50 percent for the second-straight game, shooting a season-high 55.8 percent (29 of 52). The Dragons attempted only one 3-point goal and was held without a 3-point in a game for the first time in the last 81 games. Hutchinson was 22 of 32 from the free-throw line. The Blue Dragons had a season-low 12 turnovers.

Freddie Word had a team-high 17 points to lead four Red Devils in double figures. Cory Reynolds had 12 points, Tyren Shelley had 11 and Brayden Thompson added 10 points.

Allen shot 32.3 percent (20 of 62), going 8 of 30 from 3-point range and 14 of 20 from the free-throw line. The Red Devils had 12 turnovers.

Allen led 42-41 with 15:16 to play in the second half. The Blue Dragons went on a 21-0 scoring run over the next 8:50 and led 62-42 on a Gabriel steal and dunk with 7:26 to play. Allen went scoreless for 8 minutes, 56 seconds. The Red Devils never got closer than 18 points after that.

GAME NOTES – This was all-time win No. 1,834. … The Blue Dragons are now 45-9 all-time against Allen. … Chris Robinson had a season-high five assists. … The last team to hold the Blue Dragons without a 3-point goal was the Allen Red Devils. … Hutchinson had a 43-32 rebounding advantage.