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HCC Sports Information
Saturday, November 3, 2007
One night after setting a possible school
record for assists, sophomore Bobby Maze scored 34 points in a losing effort
as No. 11 Arkansas-Fort Smith defeated the No. 14 Blue Dragons 90-86 to
close out the 2007 Quarterback Classic at the Sports Arena.
The Blue Dragons finish the Quarterback
Classic 1-2, playing three nationally ranked teams.
“Our goal is to play a schedule that helps
prepare us best for conference play,” HCC coach Ryan Swanson said. “I’m not
worried about scheduling. I don’t want 14 patsies and go 14-0, and go
through Christmas wondering how they'll react when adversity hits.”
Maze scored 34 points on 13 of 24 shooting, 7
of 11 from the free-throw line and had eight assists. Maze finished with 30
assists in the three Quarterback Classic games.
Sophomore Ken Bowman finished with a
double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. He also had three assists and
two blocked shots. Sophomore Abdul Herrera was a perfect 6 of 6 from the
field and 2 of 2 from the foul line for 14 points with seven rebounds.
The Dragons shot 48.4 percent (31 of 64),
starting off hot in the first half at 54.5 percent (18 of 33). Hutch cooled
off in the second half to 13 of 31 (41.9 percent).
Rebounding - Fort Smith had 45 to the
Dragons' 36 - was a problem again. Hutchinson also had 18 turnovers, half
coming on Fort Smith steals, and struggled with outside shooting, making
just 3 of 14 3-pointers.
The Lions showed off their depth and balance
by having all 11 players score and five hit double figures. Chris Echols and
Tehran Cox led the way with 13 points apiece.
Fort Smith was 32 of 72 from the field (44.4
percent), including 3 of 15 from long range and 23 of 39 from the foul line.
Hutchinson nearly rallied from a 14-point
deficit in the last 5 minutes, 2 seconds as Maze had 11 points in that
stretch. When Maze scored with 19.4 seconds left, the Lions’ lead was down
to 87-84.
“Without Bobby Maze, we’re not in that game,”
Swanson said. “Bobby picked up that third foul, and it was tough. I probably
overemphasized him being careful and I probably got in his head too much.”
Hutchinson, like it did in Thursday's loss to Kaplan, Neb., had a good lead late
in the first half. When Lamar Falley hit a 3-pointer with 2:14 before
halftime, Hutch led 44-37.
But the Lions tied it by halftime and then
start the second half on a 19-10 run.
The Lions shot 49 percent in the second half
and outrebounded Hutch 23-18.
<HCC MEN-ARKANSAS-FORT
SMITH BOXSCORE>
OTHER QUOTES
Head coach Ryan Swanson
On the effect of the loss to Arkansas-Fort
Smith …
“I hate losing, losing at home especially,”
Swanson said. “But no doubt in my mind we grew up tonight.”
Sophomore Bobby Maze
On his performance …
“I'm disappointed in myself. I was brought
here to win games. I'm putting this on my shoulders. I had three fouls and I
couldn’t play defense like I could have.”
Sophomore Abdul Herrera
On the team’s rebounding …
“Basically, I don't understand what’s wrong
with us because we rebound hard in practice. We're unlucky or something.
We'll just go harder in practice, and we will never quit.” |
