FREDERICK, Md.--The Hood College men's basketball team (5-3) won
its third straight game and remained perfect at the Odom Fitness
Center at Ft. Detrick with a 75-70 triumph over the St. Vincent
College Bearcats (3-5) Friday evening in nonconference action.
The Bearcats owned the first half and led by as many as eight
(20-12) midway through the period. St. Vincent connected on nine of
its first 12 field goal attempts and shot .625 in the first 20
minutes. BJ McGill and Mike Watkins combined for 22 of Vincent's 35
first-half markers.
Watkins drilled his second three-pointer of the night at the
14:50 mark to give the Bearcats their largest lead of the game,
47-36. But that's when the Blazers made their move and staged an
impressive comeback, surrendering just one Bearcat field goal
during a remarkable 21-2 run which transformed an 11-point deficit
into an eight-point advantage, 57-49, over a span of 5:49.
Back-to-back treys by McGill drew the guests to within one,
62-61, with 5:46 remaining but the Bearcats never regained the
lead. Vincent made a final charge when McGill buried his fifth
long-range basket of the night with three second left, but Hood's
Anthony Bennett hit a pair of clutch free throws on the Blazers'
next possession to ice the win.
Hood tied the program record for free throws made with 36 and
outrebounded the Bearcats, 37-31. Three Blazers reached double
figures led by J'Air Brady's 18. Brady also had five steals and
connected on Hood's lone three-pointer of the night.
Tory Wilson set a season-high with 17 points, 15 of which came
during Hood's second-half rally, while Tyler Snoots contributed 11
points.
Justin Stone came off the bench to record five points, four
boards and four assists while Bennett finished with nine points in
12 minutes off the bench.
Vincent's McGill led all scorers with 33 points on 12-of-21
shooting to go along with nine rebounds, four assists and three
steals.
The Blazers next travel to Capital Athletic Conference rival
Stevenson University Saturday, Dec. 19, for a 7 p.m. tip.
