READING, Pa. - Hood College fell victim to a dangerous 3-point shooting Alvernia squad in a 78-70 loss for the Blazers in Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth play.

Davon Hill (Clinton, Md. / Potomac School) came off the bench to lead Hood with 17 points. Ian Eversull (Ijamsville, Md. / Urbana) added 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting. All of Jared Ruiz's (Frederick, Md. / Oakdale) scoring came via a 3-of-5 night from 3-point range. He added a team-high five assists and three steals. Daniel Wegener grabbed 10 rebounds and finished a point shy of a double-double.

The Crusaders hit 14-of-32 from 3-point range (44 percent) in the contest. Mike Miller went 7-of-10 from distance and finished with 27 points. Charles Cooper hit four 3s and ended the game with 18 points. Marquis Marshall added 16 points and George Sapp scored a dozen. Reid Hoff and Marshall had eight rebounds apiece and Marshall blocked five shots. 

Hood trailed early, 13-3, but Hill scored five points during an 8-0 run to pull the Blazers within 13-11 with 11 minutes, 48 seconds left in the first half. Hood pulled within a basket on two more occasions in the half, a 3-pointer by Ruiz to make it 24-22 and a layup by Wegener that cut it to 26-24 with 4:40 to go. A 13-4 run by the Crusaders made it 39-28 at the half. 

Hood had its chances in the second half, but each time the Blazers got within a score, the Crusaders answered to hold on to the lead.

Two threes by Hill and one by Ruiz sparked a 12-4 run to open the half that brought Hood within 43-40 with 15:38 to play. The Blazers pulled within a single point, 49-48, when Eversull made a lay up with 10:55 remaining. Cooper answered with a field goal before Sapp connected for a 3-pointer and a 54-48 lead.

A score by Eversull and two free throws by Michael Robinson (Upper Marlboro, Md. / Pallotti) cut the deficit to 54-52, but a Cooper three extended the lead. Malik Harris (Columbia, Md. / Archbishop Spalding) followed with a basket with 7:02 on the clock for a 57-54 score before a Miller three stretched it back to a six-point lead.

Hood held a 37-30 rebounding advantage and outscored the Crusaders 40-8 in the paint. The Blazer bench outscored Alvernia's 29-5. 

The Crusaders were 24-of-27 at the free throw line (89 percent). Hood was permitted just 11 free throw attempts, converting eight (73 percent).

Hood travels to Messiah on February 10 for an 8 p.m. tip off in MAC Commonwealth action.