The Hood College men's basketball team almost let a 20-point lead slip away in the second half Monday night against Gallaudet University, but regrouped in the final minutes to win, 72-65.
Hood (9-8) led 50-30 with 12:51 remaining, but the Bison went on a 28-10 run to pull within two points, 60-58, with just under three minutes remaining. That, however, would be as close as the Bison (4-10) would get as the Blazers' Santo Provenzano scored seven of his game-high 36 points in the final two minutes, 54 seconds to help clinch their fourth straight win.
Provenzano was impressive from the floor, going 12-for-18, and he also hit his first three 3-pointers of the season to give him his second-highest point total of the year (his career-high came Dec. 7 with 44 points against Bethany). David Wilson also played well for Hood with 21 points and nine boards and Jesse Gutekunst had 10 boards and four blocks to go along with eight points.
Frank Jackson and Robert Haney Jr. each had 18 points to lead Gallaudet and Sekoe White followed with 14.
Hood's four-game winning streak is the longest in its two-year history and moves its record over .500 for the first time since Dec. 29.
For the game, the Blazers shot 51.2 percent (22-for-43) from the floor-their third consecutive contest eclipsing the 50 percent mark-and they outrebounded the Bison, 39-30. Although Hood turned the ball over 25 times, Gallaudet had a difficult time taking advantage, scoring just 14 points off those turnovers. The Blazers, meanwhile, forced nine less turnovers than they committed, yet scored 15 points off those Bison miscues.
Brain Morris again played solid off the bench for Hood with five assists and four boards in 28 minutes and Dennis Tressler nailed a pair of timely 3s-one in each half-to give him six points on the night.
The Blazers get back in action Saturday when they conclude their four-game homestand against Philadelphia Bible University. Tip-off at Gov. Thomas Johnson High School is set for 7 p.m.
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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.
