GRANTHAM, Pa. – A second half run by undefeated Messiah proved too much to overcome as Hood College bowed 70-65 on the road in Commonwealth Conference action.

The Blazers led 47-42 after a layup by Trevor Magnuski (Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Cumberland Valley) with 11:33 to play, but a three-point field goal by Taylor Groff 28 seconds later started a 15-2 run. Zac Hoy sank two free throws with 6:45 on the clock to cap the spree with the Falcons ahead 57-48.

Hood (3-3, 1-2 Commonwealth Conference) battled back behind two foul shots by Asa Smith (Cheltenham, Md. / Paul VI Catholic (Va.)) and a three by Tanner Ruths (Stephens City, Va. / Sherando) to cut the deficit to 57-54 with 4:38 remaining. The Blazers still trailed by just three after a foul shot by Chris Cook (Mechanicsville, Va. / Lee-Davis) with 12 seconds to go made it 68-65, but Hood was forced to foul and Brad Bolen iced the game.

Bolen scored nearly half of Messiah's points, finishing his evening with a game-high 30. He hit 9-of-17 field goals, while Hood held the rest of the Falcons to just 12-of-31 shooting (39 percent).

Cook led the Blazers with 13 points and three assists, hitting 5-of-12 from the field.

Davon Hill (Clinton, Md. / Potomac School) came off the bench 11 points. The sophomore guard led a Hood bench that outscored its counterparts 32-8 on the evening.

Cameron Cook (Baltimore, Md. / Calvert Hall) finished with 10 points and was 2-of-4 from long range. The senior led the team with six rebounds.

One of his threes started the scoring on the night and was followed by six points from Justin Bowens (Frederick, Md. / Tuscarora) during a 9-1 run to open the game for Hood.

The Falcons (7-0, 4-0 CC) fought back and led 27-24 after Geoff Boyle sank a couple of free throws with 3:05 left in the half. Three pointers by Hill and Bowens quickly put the Blazers back on top before a jumper by Bolen chipped Hood's halftime lead to 30-29.

The rebounding battle was virtually equal in the game, with Messiah holding a slim 38-37 advantage on the glass. The Blazers were especially strong on the offensive end with 14 offensive rebounds, which Hood parlayed into 10 second chance points. Messiah managed just six offensive boards and had only four second chance points.

The Blazers shot 12-of-19 from the foul line (63 percent), while the Falcons went 23-of-29 (79 percent).

Hood forced 20 turnovers on the night, while committing 16.

The Blazers have a 10-day layoff before hosting the Rotary Holiday Classic on December 21-22 at BB&T Arena. Hood takes on first-year program Bryn Athyn at 8 p.m. after Southern Vermont and PSU-Harrisburg play the other semifinal at 6 p.m.