HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A late Cowley College surge sent Hutchinson Community College to a 65-53 Jayhawk Conference loss Saturday afternoon at the Sports Arena.
Trailing by 10 early in the second half, the Blue Dragons clawed back to within 54-53 on a Kyrell Shaw three-point play with 3:54 to play. No. 21 Cowley answered with the final 11 points of the game, getting key baskets and free throws from guards Marcus Smith and Leslie Owens Jr. to put it out of reach.
Shaw led Hutchinson with 26 points on 8 of 16 shooting, including 2 of 6 from three-point range, and was 8 of 10 at the foul line. No other Blue Dragon scored in double figures as Hutchinson finished 37 percent from the field and 4 of 17 from beyond the arc with 15 turnovers.
Smith paced Cowley with 21 points and eight rebounds, while Owens added 20 points on 8 of 14 shooting. Roman Miller added nine points and nine rebounds as the Tigers held a 36-27 advantage on the glass and went 17 of 21 at the free-throw line.
Hutchinson drops to 7-5 overall and 2-4 in KJCCC play. The Blue Dragons travel to Dodge City on Wednesday to face the Conquistadors, who are 8-3 overall, 4-1 in conference play and have won four straight.