FREDERICK, Md.--Junior Santo Provenzano scored a game-high 23 points, grabbed four rebounds and added five assists to lead the Hood College men's basketball team to an 81-61 home-opening win over Centenary (N.J.) College Wednesday night at Gov. Thomas Johnson High School.

The Blazers, which played their first 14 games of the season on the road, improved to 7-8 overall with their season-high third straight win, while the Cyclones fell to 2-10 with their ninth consecutive loss.

Sophomore Jesse Gutekunst scored 15 points, pulled down five rebounds and blocked four shots, while junior Dennis Tressler added 12 points.

Junior forward Sean Robine grabbed 10 rebounds for the second straight game.

Hood jumped out to an early 10-3 lead and eventually extended its advantage to 21-11 on a 3-pointer by freshman Tim Abercrombie.

Centenary closed to within 27-23 on a 3-pointer from Alex Kuchar with 6:54 left but consecutive layups from Gutekunst, Abercrombie and Provenzano restored Hood's 10-point advantage.

Abercrombie later sank a pair of free throws to give the Blazers a 42-30 cushion with just under two minutes to play in the half and Hood took a 42-35 lead into the break.

The Blazers quickly took a double-digit lead in the second half, and a 3-pointer from Tressler put Hood in front 58-44 with 11:06 left in the game. Centenary made a final push, using a trio of 3-pointers to fuel a 9-2 run which cut its deficit to 60-53 with just under nine minutes remaining.

However, Tressler answered for the Blazers with a 3-pointer and a layup to spark an 11-2 run that sealed the victory.

Hood returns to action Saturday when it hosts Villa Julie in its second of five straight home games. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.