FREDERICKSBURG, Va.--The Hood College men's basketball team
(14-9, 9-5 CAC) eked out a slim 57-56 Capital Athletic Conference
victory over the University of Mary Washington (7-12, 4-7 CAC)
Friday afternoon at UMW's Goolrick Gym.
The win not only clinches a playoff berth for Hood, but propels
the Blazers into third place in the CAC standings. Hood also
completed the regular season sweep over the Eagles.
Sophomore Tory Wilson came off the bench to score a team-high 16
points, including what proved to be the game-winning layup with
2:03 remaining. The bucket gave Hood its first lead since the 16:22
mark of the first half.
The Eagles reeled off 10 unanswered points in a span of 2:10 to
double up the Blazers, 18-9, at the 14:12 mark. Hood trailed by
four at halftime, 32-28.
Mary Washington's lead in the second half swelled to as many as
12, 49-37, with 9:45 to go in the period. But Hood outscored the
hosts 20-7 the rest of the way and kept the Eagles off the
scoreboard for the final 3:56 of the contest. In the final four
minutes, the Eagles turned the ball over four times and misfired on
all four of their field goal attempts, including three from
downtown. UMW was 9-for-20 from long range prior to that point in
the game.
Wilson connected on 8-of-11 from the field and hauled in a
team-high seven rebounds to pace the Blazers. Anthony Bennett,
Brenden Straughn and Reco Siler chipped in eight points apiece and
combined for five assists and six steals on the night.
Hood outrebounded UMW, 35-30, and held Eagle leading scorer
Brandon Altmann to 12 points, well below his 20+ scoring average.
The Blazers are right back in action Saturday when they travel
to St. Mary's College (Md.) for a showdown with the top team in the
league at 4 p.m.
