FREDERICK, Md. – Five players scored double digits as the Hood College men's basketball team finished with a 94-86 victory against Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth Stevenson University.
Inside the Box Score
Ryan Hollwedel (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial) finished with 18 points, going 6-8 with every shot being from three-point range.
Trumaine Strickland (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) also ended the game with 18 points, adding two steals.
Garrett Cox (Glen Allen, VA/Glen Allen) scored 13 points and added two blocks and seven rebounds.
Garrison Linton (New Market, Md./Oakdale) and
Justin Gielen (Edgewater, Md./DeMatha) both finished the evening with 11 points, with Linton adding eight assists.
How it Happened
The Mustangs got on the board first 1:09 into the game, but Hood answered a three-pointer from Hollwedel to quickly retake the lead, and would not let Stevenson get ahead any time after.
Both teams battled as neither team could gain too much of a lead, with the Blazers holding a slight 21-15 lead halfway through the period.
Hood got their first double-digit lead of the game after a Linton layup set the score to 31-20 with just under seven minutes remaining.
Stevenson's offense gained a little ground towards the end of the period, shrinking Hood's lead to just 45-41 at the end of the first half.
The Blazers continued to flirt with a double-digit lead throughout the second half, but the Mustangs offense started to make some noise, bringing Hood's advantage to just three at 68-65 with less than 12 minutes left.
Hood locked back in once the score got closer, going on a 10-3 run to regain their sizable lead and made sure to keep it.
There was a chance the Blazers could get their first 100-point game holding a 90-76 edge with 3:48 left in the game, but Stevenson started to close the gap and forced them to play more conservatively, running the clock as much as possible until the buzzer sounded to finalize Hood's win.
For the Opponent
Rasheed Cooley led the Mustangs with 27 points and three steals.
Cameron Smith ended the game with 13 points and eight rebounds.
Analysis
Hood shot 51 percent from the field and 36 percent from three-point range, while shot 48 percent from the field but 46 percent from three-point range.
The Blazers outrebounded the Mustangs 36-32.
Hood's bench outscored Stevenson's 34-32.
Notes
The Blazers improve to 17-4 (9-2) while the Mustangs drop to 8-14 (2-9).
Up Next
Hood travels to St. Davids, Pennsylvania for their second matchup against MAC Commonwealth opponent Eastern University Saturday, February 10 at 3 p.m.
