DRAGONS PREVAIL IN OT, NOW LEAD WEST BY 3 GAMES

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

DODGE CITY – In a game fill with potential knee-buckling runs, the Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team delivered the final blow to Dodge City in overtime Monday night.

After Josh Baker hit two free throws with 9.1 seconds to play to force overtime, the Blue Dragons rattled the Conquistadors with a 9-0 run to start the extra session. The No. 25-ranked Dragons dominated overtime and took complete command of the Jayhawk West title chase after a 100-89 victory at the Student Activities Center to complete the season sweep of Dodge City.

Now 12-3 overall, the Blue Dragons own a three-game lead over Dodge City in the Jayhawk West at 11-3. The Conquistadors fall to 8-6. The Dragons own a 3.5 game lead over third-place Barton, which was upset by Seward County on Monday in Great Bend.

For the third time this season, the Blue Dragons had to rally from a halftime deficit. Dodge City used a 12-3 run to close the first half and lead Hutchinson 48-39 at halftime.

The Dragons still trailed 81-74 with 5 minutes to play in regulation and finally started to chip away and got the game tied at 83 on a Matt Mayers bucket with 1:34 to play. Dodge City's Tyler Stallworth answered with 1:11 to play with an inside hoop with 1:11 to go in regulation for an 85-83 Dodge City lead.

The Dragons didn't score on its next possession, but Isaiah Bujdoso tied up Dodge's Walyn Napper with the possession arrow pointing toward the Blue Dragons with 19 seconds left. Baker was fouled with 9.1 seconds to play and he calmly hit two free throws to tie the game at 85. Napper left a potential game-winning layup short of the front rim to close regulation.

The Blue Dragons took over in overtime. Mayers completed a three-point play and nailed another baseline jumper for the first five points of OT to give Hutchinson a 90-85 lead. Bujdoso then knocked down back-to-back short jumpers for a 9-0 run to start overtime and lead 94-85 with 3 minutes to play. Baker then delivered the dagger with a 3-pointer from the right corner to give the Dragons a 96-86 lead with 2:31 to play.

Hutchinson outscored Dodge City 15-4 in overtime, hitting 6 of 11 shots and holding Dodge City to 1 of 9 shooting.

Hutchinson is now 22-6 in overtime games in the Steve Eck era.

Baker scored a career-high 31 points to lead the Blue Dragons. Baker knocked down five 3-pointers and was a perfect 10 for 10 from the free-throw line. Baker added five assists.

Mayers scored 14 of his 21 points in the second half and overtime and needed the extra session to post his ninth-straight and 11th career double-double with 11 rebounds.

Majok Kuath had 14 points and seven rebounds. Bujdoso had eight points with seven rebounds and a career-high 10 assists. Chris Robinson had 10 points and six rebounds.

The Blue Dragons shot 44.7 percent for the game (34 of 76), going 6 of 16 from 3-point range and 26 of 38 from the foul line. The Dragons owned a 44-42 rebounding advantage and limited their turnovers to only nine.

Napper, who had 39 points in the first game against Hutchinson, had a game-high 25 to lead the Conquistadors on Monday. Emmanuel Jones had 19 points and Mike Marsh had 15.

Dodge City shot 48.5 percent for the game (33 of 68), hitting 9 of 26 from distance and 14 of 22 from the foul line. The Conquistadors had 18 turnovers, which Hutch parlayed into an 18-8 scoring advantage off turnovers.

Hutchinson plays host to Northwest Tech on Wednesday in the Sports Arena.