NO. 23 BLUE DRAGONS HEAD TO PLAY AT PRATT ON WEDNESDAY
BLUE DRAGON MEN'S BASKETBALL |
No. 23 Hutchinson (14-3, 13-3) at Pratt (6-10, 5-10) |
| When: Wednesday, March 24, 2021 Where: Dennis Lesh Sports Arena, Pratt, KS Time: 7:30 p.m. Radio:KHUT-FM (102.9); KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5), 7:15 p.m. - Glen Grunwald (PBP); Daren Dunn (Color) Video: Pratt Sports, 7:25 p.m. (Pay Per View) Twitter: @bluedragonsport CLICK FOR GAME NOTES (PDF Format) |
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
Riding a nine-game winning streak and finally starting to move up the NJCAA National Rankings again, the No. 23-ranked Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team doesn't want to take its foot off the gas pedal just yet.
The Blue Dragons (14-3, 13-3) travel to a venue that has been among the toughest to play in over the last several years when Hutchinson plays at Pratt at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Hutchinson's overall record at the venue affectionately known as "The Beaverdome" is 66-12. Last year, though, the Blue Dragons stumbled at Pratt, falling 94-91 in overtime. Over the last five games at in the Beaverdome, the average margin of victory for either team has been 4.4 points.
The Blue Dragons got another unexpected Saturday off when Seward County forfeited the contest to Hutchinson.
Now with four games to play in the regular season, the Blue Dragons have a three-game lead in the Jayhawk West standings.
Beyond the league title, which carries a Region VI Tournament opening-round bye, the Blue Dragons do not want to stumble and fall out of the NJCAA Rankings again. After a six-week hiatus out of the rankings, the Blue Dragons have made two weeks worth of jumps in the poll, now at No. 23. The rankings are a major component in deciding NJCAA Tournament at-large bids.
One week ago, the Blue Dragons defeated Northwest Tech 101-85 at the Sports Arena. Six players scored in double figures for the Blue Dragons led by Chris Robinson's 19 points. The Dragons shot just shy of 50 percent (34 of 69), while Tech stayed in the game with 12 3-point goals.
The first meeting between the Blue Dragons and Beavers was a shootout on March 3 in the Sports Arena as the Blue Dragons prevailed 92-87.
Matt Mayers had 27 points and a career-high 17 rebounds and Majok Kuath added 22 points, eight boards and three blocked shots to pace the Blue Dragons. Cam Morris had 24 points and Tommy Thomas added 22 to counter for the Beavers, which hit 10 3-pointers. Pratt led 37-36 at half, but Hutch outscored the Beavers 56-50 in the second half.