DUDLEY DOES IN COLBY AGAIN; DRAGONS RALLY FOR WIN

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

COLBY – D.J. Dudley dashed the Colby Trojans' upset hopes over the Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team for the second time this season.

Back on November 26, Dudley nailed a go-ahead 3-pointer with 2.3 seconds remaining for an 81-80 Blue Dragon victory at the Sports Arena to complete a seven-point rally in the final 2:36 of the season half.

With the Blue Dragons trailing by five points with 4:17 remaining in the second half on Wednesday at the Colby Event Center, Hutchinson again rallied as Dudley scored five points in the final 1:40 of the second half, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 33.4 seconds to play in Hutchinson's 65-63 come from behind victory over the Trojans.

The Blue Dragons snap a two-game skid and improve to 14-7 overall and 10-4 in the KJCCC. The Dragons play host to Independence at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Sports Arena. Colby is now 11-10 overall and 6-9 in the league.

The Blue Dragons completed their ninth second-half comeback of the season.

Sophomore Mikhail Abdul-Hamid scored a season-high 20 points to lead the Blue Dragons, hitting 5 of 12 3-point shots and was a perfect 5 of 5 from the free-throw line. Abdul-Hamid had four rebounds and it was the fourth time this season he had five 3-pointers in a single game.

Dudley finished with 14 points on 6 of 14 shooting with four rebounds and three assists. This was Dudley's fourth basket in the final minute of a game to tie or take the lead.

Sophomore Isaiah Jackson scored eight of his 10 points in the second half, including a clutch 15 footer with the shot block winding down with 6 minutes remaining in the game.

Bo Aldridge finished with nine points and Bobby Cannon had five points.

The Blue Dragons shot 40.7 percent (24 of 59), hitting 7 of 28 from 3-point range and 10 of 10 from the free-throw line. The Dragons were out-rebounded 34-27, but had only nine turnovers, three in the second half.

Eternity Eguagie had a double-double to lead Colby with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

The Trojans shot 42.1 percent (24 of 57), hitting 8 of 25 3-pointers and 7 of 9 from the free-throw line. Colby had 15 turnovers.

The Blue Dragons led 33-29 at halftime, but Colby rallied to lead 58-53 with 4:17 remaining in the game. Abdul-Hamid started the comeback with a 3-pointer to pull Hutchinson within 58-56 with 3:30 to go.

Colby took a 63-60 lead after Maxence Massadila sank all three free throws after being fouled on a 3-point attempt with 1:59 remaining. The Blue Dragons answered on their next possession with a Dudley drive to the bucket to cut the Dragon deficit to 63-62 with 1:40 remaining. The Dragons then got a stop after Colby threw the ball away with 1:17 to play.

As the clock went under a minute, Abdul-Hamid missed on a 3-point attempt at the top of the key, but Aldridge hustled and chased down a loose ball to keep the possession alive. Abdul-Hamid then dished left and found a wide-open Dudley for the go-ahead 3-pointer with 33.4 seconds to play.

The Dragons got another defensive stop, forcing a Colby turnover for a shot-clock violation with 3.2 seconds to. Colby still had three fouls to give and time ran out on a Trojan comeback.

GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons swept the 2024-25 season series over Colby by a combined total of three points. … The Dragons have won nine games in a row over Colby and are 59-6 all-time. … This was all-time win No. 1,937. … This was Hutchinson's eighth win this season with a winning margin of five points or less. … The Dragons are 7-2 in road games this season and 12-4 when leading at halftime.