by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Led by Solomon Thomas’ career-high 37 points, Kansas City Kansas Community College’s hot-shooting Blue Devils raced to an 84-52 win over Saint Mary’s junior varsity Friday night.
The Blue Devils were an identical 14-of-27 shots each half for 51.9 percent in boosting their season’s record to 5-3. The win sets up a pivotal home non-conference test against Division I Iowa Western Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
Thomas had a spectacular shooting night, draining 8-of-11 three-pointers and 13-of-18 overall in his 37-point performance. The eight 3-pointers tied Thomas for eighth on the all-time list. He also had a game-high five assists and four rebounds.
Fellow guard Zion Buckner added 17 points and five steals and Sterling Hicks four 3-pointers for 12 points. Tyson Beringer led all rebounders with 10 along with seven points as the Blue Devils had a 37-32 edge on the boards.
“It was so good to have the ball go through the hoop,” KCKCC coach Kelley Newton said. “We needed a game like this after a tough loss Wednesday (87-84 at North Arkansas). We still need to find that good chemistry but it was good to get into the flow of things tonight.”
The Blue Devils had 16 three-point goals in 32 attempts, just five short of the all-time record. In addition to Thomas’ eight, Hicks had four and Buckner and Malcolm Tate two each. KCKCC never trailed in the contest, building a 41-28 lead at halftime by holding the Spires to just 33.3 percent shooting.