FREDERICK, Md.--The Catholic University Cardinals placed four
starters in double figures en route to a 69-62 Capital Athletic
Conference victory over the Hood College men's basketball team
Saturday at Gov. Thomas Johnson High School.
Despite the setback, Hood (16-5, 9-3 CAC) remains in first place
in the conference but suffered its first loss at home and dropped
consecutive contests for the first time all season. The Cardinals
(16-4, 8-4 CAC) earned a season split with the Blazers and
registered their 10th win in their last 12 games.
Junior Jesse Gutuekunst scored Hood's first five points of the
game on a jumper and a rare three-pointer to give the Blazers a 5-4
edge, but that would be the only lead Hood would enjoy on the
afternoon. Gutekunust was then whistled for two quick fouls and
played only five minutes the entire first half.
Catholic maintained the advantage until the Blazers drew to
within one, 17-16, on a putback by Gutekunst at the 9:17 mark. With
the 6-8 center on the bench for most of the stanza, Hood's guards
were forced to step it up but were unable to knock down their
shots. The starting back court trio of Darnell Edmonds, Ryan
Junghans and Tim Abercrombie shot a combined 1-for-12 from the
floor in the first 20 minutes and the Cardinals took a 38-27 lead
into the locker room.
Hood gradually clawed its way back into it and used a
conventional three-point play by Gutkeunst to draw to within 46-43
with 11:31 to play in regulation. But the Cardinals regained a
double-figure lead by outscoring the Blazers 8-1 over the next 4:43
to go up 54-44.
The Blazers wouldn't go away though and went to Gutekunst in the
paint once again. The man in the middle delivered off a great feed
from Edmonds to make it a one possession game again with just under
three minutes to play. But the Cardinals immediately countered at
the other end on a three-pointer by Nick Oliverio.
On Hood's next possession, a three-point attempt by senior Sean
Robine was off the mark but Robine was able to corral the loose
ball and found Edmonds at the top of the key who banked in the
triple to make it a three-point game again with 2:12 to go.
Then, Catholic's Mike Wasilenko lost the handle and Edmonds was
there to pick it off, but Edmonds' shot was blocked out of bounds
by Wasilenko. A layup by Arthur Claybon was off the mark and
Catholic's Patrick Dwyer came down with the board. The Cardinals
used almost the entire shot clock before looking to shoot.
Wasilenko's three-point attempt rimmed out but Oliverio was there
for the offensive rebound, just Catholic's fifth of the game.
The Blazers were then forced to foul. Despite a pair of
long-range buckets from Abercrombie and Edmonds in the final 26
seconds, Catholic connected on 12-of-13 from the line down the
stretch to seal the Blazers' fate.
Gutekunst played just 21 minutes due to foul trouble but led all
scorers with 24 points and 12 rebounds for his 14th double-double
of the season. Robine finished with seven points, 10 rebounds and
four assists, while Edmonds had six points and three assists.
Junghans, Hood's leading scorer and three-point threat, played just
14 minutes and did not return for the second half due to injury.
Scott Fumai led four Cardinals in double figures with 19 points,
including 14-of-18 from the foul line, in addition to grabbing 10
rebounds. Fumai also recorded his 1,000th career point on a
three-pointer in the opening minutes of the game. In all, Catholic
hit 30-of-41 from the foul line and limited the Blazers to a
season-low 31.8 percent from the field.
Hood returns to action Tuesday at Marymount University at 7 p.m.
