HUGE SECOND HALF POWERS BLUE DRAGONS

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

GOODLAND – There was no second-half letdown at "The Max" this time for the Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team.

One year ago, the Blue Dragons led Northwest Tech at Max Jones Fieldhouse by 20 points in the first half and wound up losing in overtime. Leading the Mavericks by nine points at halftime on Wednesday, the Blue Dragons left nothing to chance.

The Blue Dragons scored a season-high 56 points in the second half and pulled away for a 94-61 victory over Northwest Tech. The 33-point margin of victory is the largest by either team in the series, which dates back to 2013.

Hutchinson improves to 7-3 overall and remains in a first-place tie in the Jayhawk West with Dodge City at 6-3. Dodge City defeated Seward County on Wednesday night. Northwest Tech falls to 0-7 overall and in league play. The Blue Dragons are on the road again on Saturday at Seward County in a 6 p.m. tipoff in Liberal.

Jaden Okon hit a jumper just before the first-half horn that gave the Blue Dragons a 38-29 lead at halftime. The Blue Dragons took that momentum into the second half, scoring the first six points of the period and outscoring Tech 14-1 over the first 5:05 of the second period. Majok Kuath's tip-in at the 14:55 mark gave the Blue Dragons a 52-30 lead.

Hutchinson held Northwest Tech without a field goal for the first 5:05 of the second half and held the Mavericks to just 8 of 34 shooting in the final 20 minutes. The Blue Dragons outscored the Mavericks 56-32 in the second half.

For the game, Hutchinson's defense limited Tech to 29.9 percent shooting (20 of 67), out-rebounded the Mavericks 59-41 and forced 14 turnovers. The Dragons also blocked 10 Maverick shots.

For the second-straight game, five Blue Dragons scored in double figures.

Stephan Gabriel scored a game-high 18 points, hitting 7 of 8 from the free-throw line. Gabriel added six rebounds. Freshman Donovan Taylor scored a career-high 17 points, nailing 3 of 5 from 3-point range.

Matt Mayers posted his third-straight double-double and sixth overall this season, Mayers finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds. He scored 12 points in the second half. Majok Kuath had 15 points and Isaiah Bujdoso had 12 points with a pair of 3-pointers.

The Blue Dragons had 25 assists on 35 made baskets against the Mavericks. Chris Robinson had seven assists, Bujdoso had five, while Kuath and Izaiah Hale had four assists each.

The Blue Dragons had their streak of shooting 50 percent or better snapped at four games. Hutch shot 44.9 percent against Northwest Tech (35 of 78. The were 8 of 21 from 3-point range and 16 of 21 from the free-throw line. The eight 3-pointers are the most by the Blue Dragons since hitting 10 against Seminole State on Opening Night on January 22.

Arthur Cox led Northwest Tech with 15 points. Erik Grajales had 10 points.