GREENSBURG, Pa. - The Hood College men's basketball team received career highs from
Trumaine Strickland (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) and
Christopher Smalls (Washington, D.C./St. Andrew's Episcopal), who combined for 46 points, in an 88-77 victory at Pitt-Greensburg in non-conference action.
Inside the Box Score
- Strickland's 25 points are the most for a Blazer this year. The senior went 8-of-15 from the field with three 3-pointers and sank all six of his free throws.
- Smalls poured in 21 points thanks to a 7-of-11 day shooting that featured a 5-of-8 performance from 3-point range.
- Garrison Linton (New Market, Md./Oakdale) paced Hood with 10 rebounds, seven assists and three steals.
- Soren Almquist (Oakton, Va./James Madison) came off the bench for 11 points and two blocked shots.
How it Happened
- Hood led just 74-72 with 6:19 to play before closing the game with a 14-5 run. The Blazers hit six straight field goals during a stretch of 5:30, led by eight points from Almquist. The Bobcats, meanwhile, sent just 2-for-8 down the stretch, with the second field goal coming a 3-pointer by Matt Marinchak with 55 seconds remaining and the outcome decided.
- Pitt-Greensburg went cold in the closing minutes after turning in a red-hot performance over the previous three minutes. The Bobcats nearly erased a 68-55 Hood lead by hitting five consecutive 3-point shots. Marinchak had 14 points in the 17-6 run, including the 3-point shot that pulled Pitt-Greensburg within 74-72.
- Hood opened the second half with a 19-8 surge that turned a 40-37 halftime lead into a 59-45 advantage after a steal and a layup by Strickland with 13:43 left in the game.
- In the first half, Octavius Hardy made a layup to give the Bobcats a 14-11 lead with 11:35 to go in the first half, Hood went on a 14-3 run. Strickland scored eight straight points for the Blazers during the run, resulting in a 25-17 lead with 7:49 on the clock.
- From there, the Bobcats went on a 15-5 run, including three 3-pointers by Armend Karpuzi, to take a 32-30 edge with 2:29 to go. Pitt-Greensburg led 34-32 after Reggie Priah scored at 1:49 but Hood closed the half with eight points in the final 1:27 to take a three-point lead into halftime.
Analysis
- Both teams had strong afternoons from long range. The Blazers went 15-for-39 from 3-point range (39 percent), while the Bobcats were 17-for-36 (47 percent).
- Hood won the turnover battle, committing just nine and forcing 21. The Blazers turned the disparity into a 32-10 advantage in points off turnovers.
- Led by Almquist, Hood's bench outscored Pitt-Greensburg's 23-11.
For the Opponent
- Marinchak went 9-for-15 from 3-point range to score a game-high 27 points for the Bobcats.
- Karpuzi added six 3-pointers and finished with 20 points.
- Micah Jones had nine rebounds and five assists.
Notes
- The win evened the Blazers' record at 3-3.
- Pitt-Greensburg fell to 2-4.
Up Next
Hood opens Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth action when Stevenson visits the Ronald J. Volpe Athletic Center on November 30 for a 6 p.m. tip off.
