Hutchinson CC Sports Information
Trailing by as many as nine points early in the second half, the No. 15-ranked Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team needed a spark to ignite a BSN Sports Tip-Off Classic comeback against Southwestern Christian College on Friday at the Sports Arena.
That spark was provided by freshman Bobby Cannon, who hit a game-tying 3-pointer with 1:28 remaining in the second half. Then in overtime, Cannon's dunk gave Hutchinson the lead for good as the Blue Dragons completed the comeback for a 99-94 victory.
The Blue Dragons (2-0) will play Labette at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday in the 2024 BSN Sports Tip-Off Classic finale. Southwestern Christian plays Barton at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
The Dragons seemed to be playing catch-up all night as the Rams held a lead for 28:00 minutes. SWC went on a 10-0 to build a 54-47 lead with 16:43 to play in the second half. That deficit grew to nine points at 76-67 with 6:48 left in the second half after a Dominc Samuel basket.
Hutchinson finally got the deficit to a one-possession game after two Cannon free throw with 2:26 to play cut the Ram lead to 83-80. One possession later, the Dragons scrambled to keep possession and with the shot-clock about to expire, Cannon hit his game-tying trey with 1:28 left to knot the score at 83.
Trailing 85-84, Jaquez Thornton gave the Dragons a two-point lead with a three-point play with 14 seconds remaining in the second half. Southwestern's Carson Brown, who scored game-high 36 points, hit two free throws with 8.1 seconds left to force overtime at 87-87.
Trailing 90-89 in overtime, the Dragons created a turnovers and Cannon's transition dunk with 2:29 to play gave Hutchinson the lead for good. Leading 92-91, Thornton hit is third 3-pointer of the game for a 95-91 lead. D.J. Dudley then scored on a drive to the hoop with 1:12 to play for a 97-91 lead.
The Dragons outscored Southwestern Christian 12-7 in overtime, holding the Rams to 1 of 7 overall shooting and 0 of 6 from 3-point range.
Thornton scored a career-high 28 points on 10 of 13 shooting, including 3 of 3 from 3-point range and 5 of 6 from the foul line. Thornton added five rebounds and three assists to lead the Blue Dragons.
Isaiah Jackson had 15 points and six rebounds. Jackson was both 5 of 7 from the field and the line.
Cannon finished with 15 points, including two big 3-point goals. Cannon tied for team-high rebounding honors with eight points.
Dudley had 13 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Aidan Wing was the fifth Blue Dragon in double figures with 10 points.
The Blue Dragons shot 56.1 percent from the field (32 of 57), hitting 10 of 23 from 3-point range and 25 of 32 from the foul line. The Dragons out-rebounded SWC 36-31. Hutchinson had to overcome 20 turnovers.
The Rams shot 33 of 73 from the field (46.2 percent). They shot 11 of 34 from the 3-point line and 17 of 25 from the free-throw line.
Each team had six-point leads in the opening half. The Dragons shot a blistering 68.2 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes, but led just 45-42 at halftime.
GAME NOTES – This was the first-ever meeting between Hutchinson and Southwestern Christian, a Region 5 team from Terrell, Texas. … The Dragons won all-time game No. 1,925. … The Dragons have shot better than 50 percent in each of the first two games this season. … The Dragons had a 33-9 scoring advantage in points off the bench.