Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The final two teams not to suffer a Jayhawk Conference loss this season do battle at the Hutchinson Sports Arena on Saturday night as the pre-Christmas schedule wraps up.

The No. 19-ranked Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team (10-1, 5-0 KJCCC) squares off against the No. 11 Cowley Tigers (11-1, 6-0) at 7:30 p.m.

The game will be broadcast live on Blue Dragon flagship station KHUT-FM (102.9) and sister stations KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5) with Glen Grunwald (PBP) and Dan Naccarato (color) calling the action. The game will be streamed live and free on the Blue Dragon Sports Network. The broadcasts begin at 7:15 p.m.

Hutchinson plays its second nationally ranked opponent this season. The Blue Dragons defeated then-No. 23 NEO 102-84 on Nov. 4 at the Sports Arena.

The Blue Dragons have won six games in a row since its only loss of the season. Hutchinson extended the current win streak after a gutsy 82-73 win on Wednesday at Cloud County.

Sophomore Valentino Simon has posted two-straight double-doubles, going for season highs of 21 points and 13 rebounds in the victory over the Thunderbirds. Sophomore Dre Weathers added a career-high 20 points in the victory. The Blue Dragons blocked 13 shots against the T-Birds, including a career-best seven rejections from freshman Edwin Daniel.

Hutchinson has 25 blocks in its last two games, led by Daniel's 13 blocks in the last two games.

Like the Blue Dragons, the Cowley Tigers started the season out of the national rankings. Cowley has reeled off nine-consecutive victories, including a huge road win over then-No. 6 Barton in Great Bend. Cowley vaulted all the way to No. 11 in the latest NJCAA Division I Men's rankings.

The Tigers won their ninth-straight game on Wednesday with a 76-55 victory at Dodge City. Corey Thomas had 22 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Tigers, who held the Conquistadors to 29-percent shooting.

Besides being atop the Jayhawk Conference standings heading into Saturday, the Blue Dragons and Tigers have one other thing in common this season. The only team to defeat both Hutchinson and Cowley is NOC-Tonkawa.

After Saturday's game, the Blue Dragons will have a 25-day holiday hiatus. Hutchinson returns with a nationally ranked road battle on January 3 at Butler.