FREDERICK, Md.--The Hood College men's basketball team (1-0) survived a late scare from the visiting Washington College Shoremen (0-1) Friday evening, securing a 58-55 victory in the first round of the Pride of Maryland Tournament presented by M&T Bank.

The first half saw five ties and four lead changes before an acrobatic layup by freshman Justin Stone with 22 seconds left gave the Blazers a 27-25 lead, an advantage they would then take into the lockerroom. Sophomore Herb Bowen denied Alan Kines' layup just before the buzzer to preserve the lead.

Brenden Straughn converted all three of his field goal attempts and went 3-for-3 from the line for nine first-half points to go along with four steals. Washington meanwhile shot just 9-for-32 (28.1%) from the floor.

Washington's shooting woes continued following intermission as the Shoremen made just one field goal over the first 9:46 of the second stanza. Hood's lead ballooned to as many as 14 after two free throws by Reco Siler gave the Blazers a 45-31 edge at the 9:08 mark.

But the Shoremen slowly chipped away at the deficit as Andrew Chambers started to heat up. Over a span of 2:09, Chambers hit a pair of jumpers and two free throws to draw the Shoremen to within six, 48-42, with 4:38 to go in regulation.

Hood maintained the upperhand and appeared to put the game out of reach after J'Air Brady made 1-of-2 from the line to give Hood a seven-point lead (56-49) with 43 ticks left on the clock. But Washington's Doug Holcombe converted a three-point play and Sal Schittino picked off the ensuing inbounds pass which led to a Shoreman timeout. After the respite, it was Schittino who buried a triple, his second of the night, with 27 seconds left to make it a one-point game.

Washington then fouled Straughn immediately and the Blazer starting point guard went to the line for two. He made the first but missed the second, leaving the door slightly ajar for the Shoremen. But at the other end, Scott Hampton's potential game-winning attempt from long-range wouldn't fall and Brady came down with the rebound and was fouled with 0.2 seconds showing on the clock. Brady hit 1-of-2 from the stripe to ice the victory and clinch a spot for the Blazers in the Pride of Maryland winners bracket.

Hood came out on top despite a subpar shooting effort from the charity stripe (18-of-36) and 25 turnovers. On a positive note, the Blazers shot .422 from the field and outrebounded WC, 46-38.

Straughn and newcomer Tory Wilson shared team-high scoring honors with 12 points apiece while Wilson hauled in 11 boards for his first double-double in a Hood uniform. Bowen finished with nine points and seven caroms off the bench while Stone fouled out with eight points and five rebounds to go along with two steals. Brady contributed seven points, seven boards, three assists and three steals and Siler finished with five points, all from the line, and nine boards.

WC's Chambers led all scorers with 13 points while Schittino dropped in 12 in 25 minutes off the bench.

Hood will next face the Johns Hopkins University Blue Jays in second round action at 6 p.m. at Goucher College. The Blue Jays defeated one of Hood's Capital Athletic Conference rivals, the Stevenson University Mustangs, 75-53, in its first round matchup.