Trailing by as many as 14 points in the first half, the Hutchinson Community College men’s basketball team turned things around with a strong first-half finish and a huge second-half performance to defeat Central Florida 93-83 to close out the 2011 Quarterback Classic on Saturday night at the Sports Arena.

Hutchinson trailed 29-15 with 6:24 to play in the first half. The Blue Dragons closed the first half on a 21-12 run, including the final five points of the half on a 3-pointer and layup by freshman Alex Davis to trail 43-36 at halftime. HCC outscored Central Florida Including those final five points of the first half, HCC overtook the Patriots with a 20-3 run and led 56-45 on a Mark Braden field goal with 15:06 to play to complete a 25-point turnaround.

The Blue Dragons (3-0) sizzled offensively in the second half to the tune of 70 percent shooting (17 of 24), including 4 of 6 from 3-point range. HCC outscored Central Florida 57-41 in the second half.

Davis became the third Blue Dragon in as many games to lead the team in scoring with 22 points, including two 3-point goals.

Braden added 19 points on 7 of 9 shooting with five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Anthony Thomas has 15 points and nine rebounds. Sophomore Ryan Schultz had a career-high 14 points, hitting all five of his shots, including one 3-pointer.

The Blue Dragons finished the game shooting 57.7 percent (30 of 52), including 5 of 7 from 3-point range, but only 19 of 35 from the foul line. The Dragons also committed a weekend-high 22 turnovers.

The Blue Dragons out-rebounded Central Florida 45-35.

Hutchinson had to withstand the 34-point effort of Central Florida’s Roosevelt Scott, who hit 11 of 16 shots with the 3-pointers and was 10 of 12 from the free-throw line. All of that production was off the bench. In fact, Central Florida’s top three scorers in the game came off the bench.

Christian Martinez had 13 points and Eugene McCrory had 11 points. The Patriots finished the game shooting 41.2 percent (28 of 69), but only 7 of 25 from the 3-point line and 20 of 28 from the free-throw line.

Hutchinson plays at Allen Community College at 7 p.m. on Tuesday night before playing host to Neosho County at Marshalltown in the Hutch Clinic Classic next Friday and Saturday at the Sports Arena.

(HCC Sports Information)