FREDERICK, Md.—The Hood College men's basketball team (6-4, 1-3 CAC) defeated Randolph College (7-4, 2-1 ODAC) 62-60 in overtime in its final game in Puerto Rico. The win gave the Blazers a 2-0 record in Puerto Rico making the trip a successful one.

Hood squandered a 19-point half time lead by only scoring five points in the final 10 minutes of the second half. Ramon Smith paced the Blazers with 20 points including four in OT. Smith also dished out five assists in a well-rounded effort by the senior. Smith is emerging into one of the Blazers' most difficult players for opposing teams to contain as his scoring has continued to stay high since his insertion into the starting lineup. Randolph was led by forward Derrick Woods-Morrow, who registered a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Randolph got out to a 7-4 lead to begin the game and then Hood went on a 20-2 run over the next nine minutes of the half to take a 24-9 lead. Hood pushed the pace and had its largest lead of the game in the first half when it led by as many as 21. Freshman Adrien Straughn had a tremendous first half scoring 15 points which led all scorers at the break. Hood also shot a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line helping the Blazers take a 39-20 lead into the break.

Hood maintained a double-digit lead to begin the second half and went up 50-35 off a Cameron Cook three with 11 minutes remaining in the game. The Blazers struggled to find the net and didn't register another made field goal for the remainder of the second half, allowing Randolph to get back into the game. The Wildcats tied the game off a shot with 15.0 seconds remaining capping off a 21-point come back and sending the game into overtime.

In the extra five-minute session Smith scored the first four Blazer points to give them the lead. Randolph answered to tie the game at 60 with under a minute left. With the score tied Trey Quinn drove to the basket and was fouled with 13.2 seconds left. Quinn had only scored four points up to this point but the junior calmly walked up to the line and sank both free throws giving the Blazers a 62-60 lead. Hood shot a fabulous 16-of-20 from the charity stripe for the game, which was a season high. Randolph had a last second shot that was heavily contested and missed, however it was rebounded by the Wildcats but stripped away as time expired to preserve the victory for Hood. The win capped off a great experience for the team on and off the court in Puerto Rico.

The Blazers do not hit the court again this year as they return to action Jan. 3 against Rutgers-Newark in the Johns Hopkins Tournament with a scheduled 5 p.m. tip.