The Hood College men's basketball team turned up its defensive pressure in the second half to pull away from Penn State-Altoona on Tuesday night, 76-57.

The Blazers closed the game on a 25-6 run to turn a tie game into a rout. During that nine-minute, 58-second span, Hood (4-2) forced the Lions (0-2) to commit seven turnovers and go just 1-for-8 from the floor.

Santo Provenzano led the Blazers to their fourth win in their past five games with 25 points and 12 boards while David Wilson had 15 points and Jesse Gutekunst chipped in with 12 to round out their double-digit scorers. Jay Stoltz led the Lions with 22 points and Rasheed Bey had 11.

During that closing run, which began with a layup from Gutekunst to break a 51-51 tie, Hood went 10-for-20 from the floor—nailing five straight shots at one point—and Provenzano led Hood with nine points. The Lions, who are coached by former NBA star Armon Gilliam, scored just two points over the final 4:45.

For the game, the Blazers committed a season-low eight turnovers and forced 22, with Brian Morris and Wilson each recording three steals. Hood also held a 41-35 advantage on the boards and went 15-for-22 from the line.

Hood continues its three-game homestand Saturday when Waynesburg College comes to town for a 7 p.m. tip-off at Gov. Thomas Johnson High School.

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For more information contact Jason Brennan, sports information director, at 301.696.3978, or by e-mail at brennan@hood.edu.