READING, Pa. – A second triple-double in as many games for
Garrison Linton (New Market, Md./Oakdale) was not in vain this time as the Hood College men's basketball team completed a thrilling 81-74 comeback against Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth opponent Alvernia.
Inside the Box Score
Linton's record-setting stat line saw him score 14 points, come down with 10 rebounds, and dish out 14 assists.
Ryan Hollwedel (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial) also finished the evening with 14 points.
Jude Huseby (Frederick, Md./Urbana) ended the game with a career-high 13 points, coming down with five rebounds as well.
Garrett Cox (Glen Allen, VA/Glen Allen) totaled 10 points during the game.
How it Happened
The first 10 minutes of the game were tightly contested as the score sat at 18 apiece, but Alvernia's offense got hot from that point, going on a 21-5 run over the next 5:11 to take a commanding lead.
Hood stopped the bleeding quickly though, putting together a 15-3 run across the rest of the period to cut their deficit to just 42-28 at halftime.
Linton made the first shot of the second half to get the Blazers within one, but the Golden Wolves again took over the game with a 16-6 run in just under five minutes to regain their double-digit advantage.
Unfortunately for Alvernia, no one on Hood's bench thought they would not be able to come back, as the Blazers rattled off a 12-2 run to once again get within one, staying with the Golden Wolves the whole way before retaking the lead with a three-pointer from
Justin Gielen (Edgewater, Md./DeMatha) with 6:38 left in the game.
This time Hood would not relinquish their advantage, staving off any thoughts of a comeback for the home team by finishing on a 13-8 run and securing an 81-74 victory in the penultimate game of the regular season.
For the Opponent
Robert Mullan and Nigel Cooke both led Alvernia with 17 points.
Kyle Gordon pulled down seven rebounds and tallied three blocks.
Analysis
The Blazers shot better overall at 47 percent compared to 41 percent for the Golden Wolves, but Alvernia shot 37 percent from three-point range while Hood shot just 35 percent from three.
The Blazers outrebounded the Golden Wolves 39-37.
Hood's bench outscored Alvernia's 40-17.
Notes
When asked about the team's comeback, Head Coach
Chad Dickman said, "We know we're going to score points, but we've been giving up too many open shots. We really turned it on in the last 10 minutes of each half and made them work for everything. That was a much-needed win for us and a great job by our guys of grinding our way back into the game."
The Blazers improve to 18-5 (10-3) and clinch the No. 2 seed in the MAC Commonwealth Championship tournament, while the Golden Wolves drop to 15-9 (7-6).
Up Next
Hood finishes the regular season at home against MAC Commonwealth opponent York Saturday, February 17 at 3 p.m.
