Box Score FREDERICK, Md. – Hood College pulled off one of the biggest comebacks in program history, erasing a 13-point deficit to defeat Arcadia 68-66 in Commonwealth Conference action at BB&T Arena.
Justin Bowens (Frederick, Md. / Tuscarora), Cameron Cook (Baltimore, Md. / Calvert Hall), and Chris Cook (Mechanicsburg, Va. / Lee-Davis) paced the Blazers with 12 points apiece. Reggie Daniels (Abingdon, Md. / Patterson Mill) tied a BB&T Arena record with five blocks.
Hood used perhaps its best defensive effort of the year to pull off the comeback, limiting the Knights to just 32 percent shooting in the game. That's the best mark for the Blazer defense this season and it was the sixth time in seven games that the Hood held their opponent to less than 30 percent from 3-point range. After allowing Arcadia to hit four of its first six 3-point field goal attempts, the Blazers tightened up the defense and held the Knights to just 1-of-14 the rest of the way.
Arcadia jumped ahead early 17-6 and stretched the lead to as many as 13, including a 37-24 lead with 2:18 left in the first half after a pair of free throws by Joe Brown. The Blazers closed the half with a 7-2 run and cut the deficit to eight after a Chris Cook layup with 2.2 seconds left made it 39-31 at the break.
In the second half, Hood still trailed by 10, 55-45, after a free throw by Jose Figueroa with 8:20 left. Cameron Cook nailed a 3-pointer on Hood's next possession to start a 13-3 run. Bowens sank two free throws with 5:21 remaining to tie the score at 58-58 at the end of the run.
The teams traded free throws until a layup by Aaron Lee-Webb put the Knights head 63-61 with 3:24 to play. Hood answered back immediately as Bowens found Chris Cook free on the wing for a three that put the Blazers on top 64-63 with less than three minutes left.
Lee-Webb knocked down a pair of free throws at the 1:54 mark as Arcadia went ahead 65-64. On Hood's next offensive possession, Daniels missed a layup, but Cameron Cook crashed the boards, controlled the rebound and put it back from midair to give the Blazers the lead for good with 1:32 to play.
With Hood leading 67-66, Arcadia had a chance for the last shot, but Lee-Webb lost the ball and Chris Cook came up with a steal to seal the win. The junior was fouled immediately and made 1-of-2 at the line.
It was Hood's largest comeback since tying the school record by erasing a 17-point deficit in 2012 against Johns Hopkins. The 13-point comeback against Arcadia tied for the fourth largest deficit overcome in school history.
Cameron Cook led the team with eight rebounds, while Bowens dished out four assists and Chris Cook had three steals.
Lee-Webb scored a game-high 15 for Arcadia. Brown and Figueroa each finished with double-doubles. Brown had 13 points and 12 rebounds, with Figueroa chipping in for 10 points and 11 boards. Travis Saitus added 13 points and five steals.
The Knights held a 52-41 edge in rebounding, but converted the rebounds into just nine second chance points.
Hood went 24-of-33 from the line (73 percent). Arcadia converted 21-of-30 free throws.
Albright visits BB&T Arena on January 15 at 8 p.m.