Humphrey sets mark in Garden City's route of NW Tech

Goodland, KS-Over the past five seasons, Garden City has recruited a who's who of sharpshooters. Tahlik Chavez, Denver Jones, and Kendale Hampton have all etched their names into Broncbuster lore as some of the best shooters in program history. However, none of them accomplished what DaJion Humphrey did on Saturday. 

Humphrey tied his own school record with seven made triples in a game and finished with 21 points, Logan Feltman poured in a career-high 17 off the bench, and Garden City blasted Northwest Tech, 75-52 at Max Jones Fieldhouse. The Broncbusters improved to 17-7 overall and 12-7 in conference play. 

Humphrey, who leads the conference in 3-point percentage (45.6) became the first player in program history to make seven 3s in a game three times, finishing 7-of-13 from deep. In fact, all 13 of his shot attempts came from beyond the arc as he posted his 11^th 20-point game of the season. 

"We always talk about being consistent, and that's how we have to play every night," Head Coach, Rusty Elmore said. 

The sophomore transfer from Holly Cross, scored 18 of his team-best 21 points in the second half, finishing 6-of-7 from downtown over the final 20 minutes. His back-to-back long balls early in the final period gave the Broncbusters an 11-point lead. It never dipped under 10 after that. 

Garden City connected on a season-high 14 3s, shooting 47 percent from the field and 9-of-14 at the line. They outrebounded the Mavericks 32-30 and had 17 assists on their 26 made baskets. 

Trailing 16-8 following Zaire Hayes wide-open 3-pointer from the left wing with 12:48 to go in the first half, Elmore called a timeout. That's when Garden City finally found its footing. 

Buru Naivalurua hit a contested fadeaway in the paint, David Elliott drove to the basket for 2, Feltman hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key, and Jaborri McGhee, who was back in the starting lineup on Saturday, knifed his way through the defense for a layup, sparking a 9-0 run that had the Broncbusters up, 17-16. McGhee followed with consecutive treys, and Naivalurua banked home a 3-footer, giving Garden City a five-point edge at the half. 

"I thought our energy really picked up over the final few minutes of the first half," Elmore added.  

The offensive barrage came after the break.   

Garden City made four straight 3s to begin the second half, finishing 9-of-14 from beyond the arc in the final period. Humphrey's final 3 with 5:20 remaining gave the Broncbusters their largest lead of the game, 66-41. 

McGhee had 20 points, six assists, and four rebounds in 39 minutes for Garden City, which won for the fourth time in their last five games. Naivalurua chipped in his 14^th double-double fo the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Feltman finished 6-of-10 from the field and 4-of-8 from long range. 

Tiaen Conner had 15 points for Northwest Tech, which dropped to 9-16 overall and 4-15 in conference. Zaire Hayes added 13 in 25 minutes.