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ASHLAND, Va.--First-year forward Cameron Cook poured in a career-high 22 points to lead the Hood College men's basketball team (6-5) to a 73-60 nonconference victory over the Averett University Cougars (2-11) at the Randolph-Macon Coaches Classic Sponsored by Kay Jewelers Friday afternoon.

The opening half was a period of runs as both teams showed scoring bursts and droughts. Hood started strong by hitting 4-of-6 from the field to take a 9-2 lead within the first 4:07. However Hood would go on to miss its next seven shots as the Cougars ripped off a 15-1 run over the next 4:54. Jamal Bell put a stop to Hood's shooting woes with a layup at the 10:38 mark to make it 17-12 Averett.

Later, the Blazers closed to within one, 23-22, when Justin Stone set up Brenden Straughn from deep and Reco Siler swished a pair of foul shots to make it a one-point game with 6:35 to go in the half. Hood finally regained the lead at the 4:20 mark when Cook picked off a steal and drained one of his career-high six threes to put Hood up 25-23. The Blazers held a 31-25 edge at the break.

Hood would break it open in the second half, holding as much as a 19-point advantage at one point. The Cougars got no closer than eight the rest of the way.

Cook drilled 7-of-11 from the floor and 6-of-10 from distance to match Averett's Kenny Hart for game-high scoring honors. Straughn, who finished with 20 points and dished six assists, also passed former teammate J'Air Brady for sixth place on Hood's career three-point chart with 56. Siler came off the bench to net a season-high 13 points, including 10-of-14 from the foul line.

Hood begins 2011 with a Capital Athletic Conference tilt at Stevenson University Wednesday, Jan. 5, at 8 p.m.