FREDERICK, Md. - Hood College led by as many as 20 in the first half, but had to hold off a comeback attempt by Albright in an 80-72 win. 

Chris Cook (Mechanicsville, Va. / Lee-Davis) led Hood with 24 points and four assists. James Brown (Lancaster, Pa. / Lancaster Country Day) had career-highs in points, rebounds and blocks in the game. The sophomore hit 5-of-9 field goals on his way to 12 points. He added nine rebounds and three blocks. Reggie Daniels (Abingdon, Md. / Patterson Mill) sank 3-of-5 field goals and all four of his free throws on his way to 11 points. 

Hood came out of the gates fast, outscoring the Lions 33-13 over the first 14 minutes of play. Cook and Brown scored a combined 18 points during the stretch. A jumper by Trevor Magnuski (Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Cumberland Valley) kept the Blazer advantage at 20, 37-17, two minutes later, but Albright began to chip away. Omari Ringgold had eight points in the final three minutes of the half as the Lions cut Hood's lead to 39-27 at the half. 

Hood held the Lions to just five of its first 25 field goals and 8-of-32 in the half (25 percent). 

The Blazers lead slipped into single digits early in the second half before six straight points by Cook made it 50-39 with 13:07 remaining. A jump shot by Evan Ward tied the game at 55-55 with 8:28 to go, but back-to-back jumpers by Hill and a 3-point field goal by Cook stretched the lead back to seven. 

The Lions again fought their way back into the game. A three by Dejuan Smith tied the game at 66-66 and two free throws by Ringgold gave Albright the lead with 3:17 left. 

From there, the two teams traded buckets as they fought for control of the game. A long three by Corey Martin (Glen Burnie, Md. / North County) put the Blazers back on top 69-68, but Vince Lombardi answered with a lay up for Albright. A Daniels three with 2:09 to play gave Hood a 72-70 advantage and the Blazers never trailed again.

Ringgold finished with a game-high 25 points and added seven rebounds. Smith scored 16 points and Ward had 11 points and seven boards. 

Hood took excellent control of the ball, committing just nine turnovers in the game. The Blazers hit 48 percent from the field (28-of-59). Hood limited Albright to just 3-of-18 (17 percent) from 3-point range.

The Blazers, 8-8 overall and 4-3 in the Commonwealth Conference, travel to Messiah on January 21.