READING, Pa. – A hot start to the evening set the tone early for the Hood College men's basketball team, as the Blazers defeated Albright College 85-70 in a Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth matchup.
Inside the Box Score
Justin Gielen (Edgewater, Md./DeMatha) led the way with 22 points, shooting 64 percent from the field and 80 percent from three-point range.
Garrett Cox (Glen Allen, VA/Glen Allen) secured Hood's third double-double in five games, scoring 18 points and coming down with 11 rebounds.
Garrison Linton (New Market, Md./Oakdale) finished with 10 points and four rebounds.
How it Happened
Hood got off to a blazing start with a 12-2 run over the first 3:04 as Cox knocked down eight on his own. Albright got within three points with just under 11 minutes to play, but the Blazers quickly restored their double-digit lead with a three-pointer from
Ryan Hollwedel (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial) making it a 30-19 advantage.
That lead was stretched to 20 points after a
Jack Fricka (Alexandria, Va./West Potomac) layup put Hood up 43-23, but the Lions got it back under 20 just before the buzzer sounded as the Blazers held a 46-27 edge.
There was no letting up on the gas coming out into the second half, as Hood went on a 28-17 run in the first 11 minutes to get to the 30-point milestone with a 74-44 margin.
Free throws from
Yhali Steinhauer (Jezreel Valley, Israel/Putnam Science Academy (Conn.)) restored the Blazers' 30-point gap 85-55 with 3:20 left to play, but Albright put together a 15-0 run across the last three minutes to give Hood a bit of a reality check before the final horn cemented their 85-70 win.
For the Opponent
Eric Chamberlain led the Lions with 16 points, shooting 50 percent from the field.
Robert Magnum finished just behind him with 14 points, adding five rebounds as well.
Analysis
The Blazers shot 42 percent from the field, and 34 percent from three, while the Lions shot just 37 percent from the field and 30 percent from three.
Hood outrebounded Albright 51-34.
Albright committed 15 turnovers, while Hood gave the ball away 14 times.
Notes
"I think the guys have really bought into how important defense and rebounding are to our success. This year, we've done both so well that we are still winning games when our threes aren't falling… I think our guys are really taking that to heart," said Head Coach
Chad Dickman.
The Blazers improve to 16-3 (8-1), while Albright drops to 9-11 (2-7).
Up Next
Hood travels to Chester, Pennsylvania for their second matchup against MAC Commonwealth foe Widener University Saturday, February 3 at 3 p.m.
