FREDERICK, Md. - The Hood College men's basketball team saw its eight-game win streak come to an end as Eastern University picked up a 75-69 win on the Blazers' Senior Day in Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth action.
Inside the Box Score
- Mason Wang led the Blazers with 24 points, hitting 5-of-9 from 3-point range.
- Ryan Hollwedel was the only other player in double figures for Hood with 13 points.
- Evan Wang had a team-high five assists.
How it Happened
- Soren Almquist hit a 3-pointer and later 1-of-2 free throws to put the Blazers ahead 50-48 with 13:50 to play. From there, Hood went cold, shooting only 6-of-19, including 2-for-11 from 3-point range, the rest of the way.
- The Eagles used the icy stretch by the Blazers to go on a 25-12 run, behind nine points by Jaron Fairweather, to take a 73-62 lead with just 26 seconds remaining.
- Prior to Eastern's late run, the teams combined for 24 ties and lead changes in the opening 26 minutes.
- Neither team led by more than three points until Hollwedel scored for Hood to make it 19-14 with 11:03 left in the first half. The Blazers still led by five after an and-one by the junior made it 21-16 two minutes later. Sam Gallardo and Davin Hernandez followed with 3-pointers for Eastern to start a 9-0 run that gave the Eagles a 25-21 lead with 7:25 left in the first.
- Hood reclaimed the lead when Mason Wang hit a 3-pointer with 3:01 on the clock. There were five more lead changes down the stretch in the first half, the final of which came on a William Blet layup that gave the Eagles a 35-34 halftime lead.
- The opening six minutes of the second half featured 10 ties and lead changes before the Eagles took control.
- Analysis
- The two teams had virtually identical shooting nights, with Eastern going 24-for-62 (39 percent) and the Blazers hitting 24-for-63 (38 percent). The Blazers went 11-for-31 from 3-point range (36 percent), while the Eagles went 6-of-19 (32 percent).
- Eastern had the advantage at the foul line, going 22-for-29, compared to 10-of-19 for the Blazers.
- The Eagles had a 44-31 rebounding advantage, but second chance points were almost even with Hood holding a 22-21 edge.
For the Opponent
- Gallardo led four Eastern players in double figures with 18 points. Fairweather added 14, Blet scored 13 and Kaeshawn Ward netted 11.
- Ward and Draig Cooley each had nine rebounds, while Ward added a game-best five steals.
Notes
- Before the game, Hood honored both Evan and Mason Wang, along with Christopher Smalls and Bryce Butler, along with manager Lance Coffey, for their contributions to the program.
- The loss gave Eastern a season sweep of the series as the Eagles are responsible for both of Hood's conference defeats. The Blazers sit at 15-6 overall and 12-2 in the MAC Commonwealth. Eastern is 17-5 and 11-2.
Up Next
Hood travels to Messiah on Tuesday, Feb. 15 for an 8 p.m. start.
