FREDERICK, Md. - The Hood College men's basketball team dropped a 79-66 final to Lycoming in Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth play.

The Blazers' starting backcourt of Davon Hill (Clinton, Md. / Potomac School) and Jared Ruiz (Frederick, Md. / Oakdale) shouldered much of the scoring load for Hood. Hill scored 20 points, hitting 7-of-14 field goals. Ruiz knocked down 6-of-12 field goals and finished with 17 points. Daniel Wegener (Falling Waters, W.Va. / Broadfording Christian (Md.)) grabbed seven rebounds and blocked a pair of shots. Malik Harris (Columbia, Md. / Archbishop Spalding) had seven boards off the bench. 

The Warriors led for much of the early going before Hood took a 17-16 lead on a jumper by Hill with 10 minutes and 45 seconds left in the half. The Blazers led by as many as seven in the first and led 36-32 at the break behind 15 points from Ruiz. 

In the second half, Lycoming came out on fire and went on a 22-2 run to claim a 54-38 lead. Hill had 14 of his 20 in the second half as the senior tried to lead a comeback. The Blazers went on an 11-0 run, sparked by five points apiece by Luke Casey (Nanticoke, Pa. / Crestwood) and Hill, that cut the deficit to 70-59 with 2:41 to play. 

TJ Duckett scored a game-high 24 points for Lycoming, going 6-of-9 from 3-point range. Alex Newbold had 13 points and seven rebounds, while Chris Wallace pitched in with a dozen points. 

Hood hosts Messiah on Wednesday, January 13 at 8 p.m.