BLUE DRAGONS HOLD ON TO DEFEAT PRATT

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The Hutchinson Community College sophomore trio of Matt Mayers, Majok Kuath and Josh Baker combined for 62 points Wednesday night as the Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team had to fend off the Pratt Beavers at the Sports Arena.

Mayers had his sixth-consecutive double-double while Kuath just missed a double-double and Baker returned to the Dragon lineup after missing the last nine games to lead the Blue Dragons to a 92-87 victory in an intense, high-possession league contest.

The Blue Dragons won their fourth-straight game and improved to 9-3 overall and 8-3 in the Jayhawk West. Hutchinson travels to Garden City for a 4 p.m. tipoff at Conestoga Arena.

Mayers, who earlier in the day was named the Jayhawk Conference Division I Player of the Week for the fourth time and third week in a row, had 27 points and a career-high 17 rebounds for his eighth double-double this season. Mayers was 8 of 18 from the field and 11 of 14 from the free-throw line. He added three blocked shots, two steals and two assists.

Mayers' 17 rebounds tied 2017 National Player of the Year Shakur Juiston for ninth on the Blue Dragon single-game rebound list.

Kuath sparked a big Blue Dragon offensive second half by scoring 14 of his season-high-tying 22 points in the final 20 minutes. Kuath was 10 of 15 from the field and had eight rebounds and three blocked shots.

Baker, who hasn't played since January 27 against Coffeyville, knocked down three 3-pointers and finished with 13 points with four steals and three assists.

The Blue Dragons trailed by as many as 11 points in the first half. Shooting only 34.3 percent (12 of 35) with five turnovers, the Blue Dragons managed to cut that deficit to 37-36 at halftime.

The Dragons outscored Pratt 56-50 in the second half, shooting 58.1 percent (18 of 31), getting 20 points from Mayers and 14 from Kuath. Baker knocked down a pair of key 3-pointers in the second half.

The Blue Dragons' largest lead in the second half was 13 at 84-71 after a Kuath dunk with 1:36 remaining. The Beavers then scored 16 of the game's next 22 points and made it a one possession game with 5 seconds to play after a Tommy Thomas putback cut the Dragon lead to 90-87. Mayers made 2 free throws to seal the game.

Hutchinson finished shooting 30 of 66 for the game (45.5 percent), hitting 4 of 9 3-pointers and 28 of 44 from the free-throw line.

Isaiah Bujdoso had 11 points with seven assists and four rebounds for the Blue Dragons. Bryant Selebangue and Stephan Gabriel had six points each.

Cam Morris finished with a team-high 24 points to lead the Beavers. Thomas finished with 22 points and Malcolm Whitlow had 19.

The Beavers finished shooting 35.9 percent (28 of 78), going 10 of 28 from distance and 21 of 26 from the free-throw line. The Beavers had 17 turnovers.

Rebounding was even at 48-48, but Pratt had 21 offensive rebounds.

GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons are now 148-25 all-time against Pratt. … This was all-time win No. 1,838 for the Blue Dragons. … Pratt is the fifth team to sink 10 or more 3-pointers against the Blue Dragons this season. … Hutchinson won its first game in three tries when trailing at halftime. … The Blue Dragons are 6-1 at the Sports Arena this season. … Kuath had his sixth career 20-point game as a Blue Dragon. … With 22 points, Kuath reached the 600 career point plateau (600 points). Josh Baker now has 84 career 3-pointers.