Reading, Pa. (Jan. 21, 2019) - Hood College (12-6, 6-3) made more free throws than its opponent attempted and held Alvernia University (8-10, 3-6) to 27 percent on 29 attempts from the 3-point line in a 77-66 win Monday afternoon in MAC Commonwealth men's basketball action at Jack McCloskey Court.

The Blazers led by two, 43-41 with 13:00 left in the game, before putting together a 13-5 run to build their first double-digit lead, 56-46.  Tyler Evans led the way for Hood with seven points during the run, and Alvernia went 1-for-5 from the floor.

Alvernia freshman Malik Green had a 3-point attempt in the air with 3:20 to go that would have cut the gap to five, but it was off the back iron and Hood pushed the other way and knocked down a triple to go back up 11.
Green finished with a game-high 23 points.  Justin Thomas had another strong game in a reserve roll scoring 13 points off the bench.  Nick Youngkin added 10 points--all in the second half--and added a team-high seven rebounds.

Hood had five players reach double figures led by Mason Wang who scored 15.

Alvernia had a six point lead early in the first half and again with under four minutes to go before the break.  Hood scored nine of the last 13 in the half to cut the gap to one at the intermission, 34-33. The Blazers when 5-for-5 from the free throw line during the run and finished the game 23-for-30.  Alvernia was 14-for-22.

A jumper from Avery Walker set the 43-41 score before Hood's decisive run.

The loss snaps a modest run of four straight wins for the Wolves and denies their first shot to get back to .500 on the season.

Arcadia (9-0), Stevenson (6-2), and Hood (6-3) have started to open some space at the top of the conference standings.  Widener (4-4) sits in fourth place with Albright (4-5) a half game back in fifth. Messiah (3-5) is sixth with Alvernia (3-6) and Lebanon Valley (3-6) still in the hunt.  The top five teams will make the postseason.

Alvernia returns to action Wednesday at Stevenson.

Hood 77, Alvernia 66