DRAGONS LOOK TO SLOW DOWN HIGH-SCORING PIRATES SATURDAY
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
The Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team has a tough defensive assignment on Saturday afternoon as the Blue Dragons entertain the Independence Pirates in the second meeting of the season.
The Blue Dragons (14-7, 10-5 KJCCC) and Pirates (10-10, 6-8 KJCCC) will tip off at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Hutchinson Sports Arena.
BLUE DRAGON MEN'S BASKETBALL
Hutchinson (14-7, 10-5) vs. Independence (10-10, 6-8)
When: Saturday, February 1, 2025
At: Hutchinson Sports Arena, Hutchinson, KS
Time: 4 p.m.
Radio: KHUT-FM (102.9); KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5), 3:45 p.m. - Sean Boston (PBP); Dan Naccarato (Analyst)
Video: Blue Dragon Sports Network, 3:45 p.m.
X: @bluedragonsport
Game Sponsor: RCB Bank
CLICK FOR FULL BLUE DRAGON GAME NOTES (PDF Format)
The game will be broadcast live on Blue Dragon flagship station KHUT-FM (102.9) and on sister stations KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5) beginning at 3:45 p.m. with Sean Boston (play-by-play) and Dan Naccarato (analyst) calling the action. The game will be streamed live and free on the Blue Dragon Sports Network beginning at 3:55 p.m.
The Blue Dragons will go up against the leading scoring offense in the Jayhawk Conference and the 16th-highest scoring offense in the NJCAA this season. Independence is averaging 92.1 points per game. The Pirates shoot 47.8 percent and 34.1 percent from 3-point range. The Prates shoot 65.0 percent from the free-throw line. They get to the line for a nation-leading 31.4 attempts per game.
Since giving up a season-high 103 points in a 103-97 loss at Independence on November 30, Hutchinson's defense as dramatically improved since then. Allowing 74.8 points per game for the season, the Blue Dragons are allowing only 71.2 points in the 11 games place since November 30.
The Blue Dragons rallied from five points down on Wednesday at Colby to defeat the Trojans 65-63. D.J. Dudley hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 33.4 second to play and then the Dragons got a defensive stop with a shot-clock violation to secure the win. Mikhail Abdul-Hamid had a season-high 20 points on 5 of 12 shooting from 3-point range to lead the Blue Dragons. Dudley had 13 and Isaiah Jackson had 10 points.
The Pirates are smarting after a second-half collapse against No. 12 Coffeyville on Wednesday. The Pirates led 41-40 at halftime and 54-48 with 16:09 left, only to see the Red Ravens explode for a 55-20 run over the remainder of the game in a 103-74 win over Independence.
Saturday's game will be the 82nd in series history between Hutchinson and Independence. The Blue Dragons lead the all-time series 57-24, including 24-5 in games in Hutchinson.