The 13th-ranked Hutchinson Community College men’s basketball team rallied from a double-digit deficit for the second time this season to defeat Murray State College 73-54 on Saturday night in the final night of the Ramada Thanksgiving Classic.
Hutchinson trailed by scores 13-2 and 16-4 in the first 5 minutes, 33 seconds into the game against the Aggies. But HCC slowly turned the tide against Murray State (2-4), outscoring the Aggies 27-9 to close the first half to lead 31-25 at halftime.
Murray State switched to a zone defense in the second half after HCC built an 11-point lead early in the second half. The Aggies went on a small 5-0 run to pull within four at 41-37 with 12:29 to play in the game when the Blue Dragons responded once again. HCC used runs of 8-2 and 7-0 to build a 56-41 lead after a Mark Braden three-point play. The Dragons held Murray State to just one field goal over the final 5 minutes of the game and knocked down 7 of 8 free throws down the stretch to finish off the Aggies.
Braden scored 18 points to lead the Blue Dragons (9-0). Braden had a season-high three 3-point goals on five attempts and he added three steals.
Freshman Anthony Thomas posted his second-straight double-double and third of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Thomas was 8 of 8 from the free-throw line and had three assists and two blocked shots. Freshman Alex Davis had 10 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots. Sophomore Michael Spease and freshman Rozell Nunn added nine points.
The Blue Dragons shot 48.1 percent overall (26 of 54), hitting 5 of 12 from 3-point range and 16 of 21 from the free-throw line. HCC out-rebounded Murray State 34-32, but committed 18 turnovers.
Hutchinson held an opponent to less than 40 percent shooting for the seventh time in nine games, holding Murray State to 38.5 percent overall (20 of 52). The Aggies were 5 of 16 from 3-point range and 9 of 15 from the foul line. Murray State turned the ball over 23 times.
Tim Smallwood Jr. capped a strong weekend with 19 points, seven rebounds, four assists and six steals to lead Murray State. Devonte Davis had 12 points and five rebounds.
After falling behind 16-4 after a Davis 3-pointer with 14:27 remaining in the first half. The Blue Dragons committed 11 of their 18 turnovers in the first 12 minutes of the game and scored only 11 points in the first 12 minutes, 43 seconds of the contest.
Trailing 21-11, HCC started chipping away, eventually tying the game on a Davis layup and taking a 23-21 lead on a Braden steal and layup with 3:32 to play. Thomas and Davis scored the final two baskets of the first half and HCC led 31-25 at halftime.
HCC scored the first five points of the second half on a Spease 3-pointer and a Thomas inside hoop to lead 36-25 with 18:36 to play. The Aggies used a 12-5 run to pull within 41-37 with 12:29 to play after a Carlos Henderson free throw with 12:29 to play.
The Dragons started breaking down the Murray State zone, getting a Ryan Schultz point-blank bucket from a Davis assist to spark a 6-0 run that eventually grew into a 15-2 run to build a 56-41 lead after a Braden three-point play after a steal with 8:40 to play.
Hutchinson plays host to Hesston College at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the Sports Arena.
GAME NOTES – This was all-time victory No. 1,581 for the Blue Dragons. … HCC has won six straight against Murray State and leads the all-time series 7-3.
(HCC Sports Information)