BALTIMORE, Md.-The Hood College men's basketball team used a
balanced scoring attack to defeat the St. Mary's College Seahawks,
108-96, Saturday in the semifinal round of the third annual
Provident Bank Pride of Maryland Tournament on the campus of Johns
Hopkins University.
Five Blazers reached double figures and the Blazers shot a
scorching 60.3 percent from the field to propel Hood into its first
ever championship game Sunday against McDaniel College at 6:30 p.m.
Hood's 108 points were also a Provident Bank Pride of Maryland
Tournament record.
In the first half, the lead seesawed back and forth over the
first several possessions before back-to-back layups by Rian
McHenry and Nick Scott staked the Blazers to a 23-19 edge with just
under 13 minutes remaining in the stanza. Hood's advantage
ballooned to double figures on a Mark McGlone layup at the 6:52
mark. From there the Seahawks connected on just two field goals the
rest of the half as the Blazer lead swelled to 14 at halftime.
Gutekunst was a perfect 7-of-7 from the field, assisted on two
other baskets and grabbed nine rebounds in the first 20 minutes of
action. McHenry and junior Ryan Junghans were also 3-for-3 from the
floor. Junghans, Hood's leading scorer, was whistled for two
personal fouls in the first 4:48 of the contest but managed to
contribute nine points and an assist in an abbreviated first-half
stint.
The Blazers maintained their double-figure cushion for most of
the second half as the Seahawks drew no closer than six.
Gutekunst finished with his fourth consecutive double-double
with game-highs of 27 points and 19 rebounds. McHenry also finished
with his first collegiate double-double of 11 points and 10
rebounds. Junghans played all 20 minutes of the second half and
finished with 24 points and three assists. Anthony Bennett tallied
a career-high 18 points while McGlone chipped in 14 points.
St. Mary's was led by Mike Smelkinson who poured in 27 points
including six three-pointers. The Seahawks eclipsed the tournament
record for three-pointers made with 13.
The Blazers will face McDaniel College in the championship game
at 6:30 p.m.
