STEVE CARPENTER
HutchCC Sports Information
The Hutchinson Community College men’s basketball team looks to answer the bell from the seasons’ second loss on Saturday with a quick turnaround in a Monday matchup with the Independence Pirates.
The Blue Dragons and Pirates meet for the second time this season at 7:30 p.m. at the Sports Arena. The Blue Dragons play the second of three-straight home games in a five-day stretch.
Hutchinson (16-2) starts the second half of Jayhawk Conference play in second place, one game behind Dodge City.
The Blue Dragons closed the first half of league play with the highest combined scoring game in Hutchinson history, a 132-127 loss to Garden City on Saturday at the Sports Arena.
The Blue Dragons posted the seventh-highest single-game offensive total in history with six players scoring in double figures, led by Kaimen Lennox’s career-high-tying 24 points. Angelo Stuart had 21 points, while Kobe Campbell (20 points, 10 rebounds) and Jacquez Yow (19 points, 10 rebounds) posted double-doubles.
The Blue Dragons continue to lead the Jayhawk Conference in scoring (96.1 ppg), rebounding (46.8 rpg), assists (18.5 apg) and made 3-pointers per game (9.5). The Dragons have scored 100 or point points in six games this season and have 10 or more 3-pointers nine times.
Independence enters Monday on a four-game losing streak after Saturday’s 76-68 loss at Butler. Johan Nziemi had a team-high 18 points to lead the Pirates, who shot just 39 percent against the Grizzlies.
Independence is top 3-point shooting team in the KJCCC this season at 37.4 percent. The Pirates average 8.1 made 3-pointers per game. Lucas Kroft is shooting 46.4 percent and Rodney Munson is shooting 39.7 percent. Kroft has missed the last three games for Independence.
Independence hit nine 3-pointers against the Blue Dragons in the first meeting this season, a 96-91 Hutchinson victory on Nov. 17 at Independence. Angelo Stuart had 22 points to lead the Blue Dragons in that game, while Yow had a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Munson had 14 points to lead the Pirates.
Monday’s game is the 76th all-time meeting. The Dragons lead the series 52-23.