READING, Pa. - Hood College saw its five-game win streak come to an end as Alvernia, the defending conference champions, defended its home court 77-53 in Commonwealth Conference action.

Jay Burke (Waldorf, Md. / North Point) scored 11 points, his most in a Blazer uniform, and matched his Hood best with six rebounds, but the Crusaders placed five players in double figures. Kahlil Bennett led all players with 15 and Harrison Deyo turned in a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Brian Parker (13 points), Lamont Clark (12) and Charles Cooper (11) also scored in double digits.

Matt Galloway (Sterling, Va. / Potomac Falls) scored the game's first four points as Hood (8-4, 2-3 Commonwealth) jumped ahead 9-2 in the early going. Alvernia (7-4, 3-2) quickly regrouped and led 10-9 after a jumper by Bennett with 15:16 left in the half. Terell Buyck (District Heights, Md. / Bishop McNamara) helped the Blazers get back out in front, 18-14, with a 3-point field goal at 12:44. After the Crusaders battled back to reclaim the lead, Chris Cook (Mechanicsville, Va. / Lee-Davis) knotted the score at 22-22 with 6:20 on the clock in the first half. 

A free throw by Deyo, however, started a 15-5 run to close the half for Alvernia as Hood trailed 37-27 at the break.

Cameron Cook (Baltimore, Md. / Calvert Hall) hit a three with 16:58 left in the game to trim the deficit to single digits, 39-30, but two free throws by Deyo put the lead back at 11. The Crusaders put the game away with a 17-5 run later in the half that resulted in a 63-40 lead with 6:31 to play.

Hood won the rebounding battle, 37-34, the seventh time this season the Blazers have outrebounded their opponents. 

Clark and Chris Davis had seven assists apiece. 

The Crusaders were 29-of-60 from the floor (48 percent), but Hood limited their 3-point attack to just 5-of-21 (24 percent). The Blazers were 19-of-53 from the field (36 percent).

Hood will look to get back in the win column when Arcadia visits BB&T Arena on January 11.