FREDERICK, Md.--The Hood College men's basketball team (14-7,
8-4 CAC) registered its fourth come-from behind victory of the
season Wednesday, 84-80 over St. Mary's (11-10, 6-6 CAC), to remain
in third place in the Capital Athletic Conference standings.
Hood has trailed at halftime eight times this season, but shot
62.1 percent from the field and rallied from a six-point halftime
deficit to upend the Seahawks. The Blazers completed the season
sweep over SMC and improve to 5-1 all-time in the series. Hood
is now a half-game behind idle Mary Washington for second place in
the league.
The first half featured four ties and six lead changes before
the Seahawks scored seven unanswered points to go up 33-26 with
2:48 to go in the stanza. St. Mary's took a 38-32 edge into the
lockeroom.
Hood quickly pulled even over the first 2:36 of the second half,
and regained the lead on a Ryan Junghans' layup at the 16:43 mark.
But the second half was as much of a see-saw affair as the first,
with seven ties and eight lead changes.
With the score deadlocked at 77-77 with 1:01 left, Junghans and
Jeff Willison hit back-to-back layups and Mark McGlone nailed two
free throws to put the Blazers up six (83-77) with 21 seconds left.
St. Mary's misfired on four of its five shots in the final 36
seconds and the Blazers escaped with the victory.
Junghans paced the Blazers with 21 points while Tim Abercrombie
contributed 14 points, including 12 in the second half. Willison
finished with 11 points and seven rebounds while Nick Scott chipped
in 10.
SMC's Tyson Lesense led all scorers with 27 points and Mike
Smelkinson had 14.
The Blazers entertain Marymount University (11-9, 5-6 CAC), a
team they defeated 92-88 on Jan. 9, Saturday at 4 p.m. at
Gov. Thomas Johnson High School.
