FREDERICK, Md.--Sophomore Justin Stone registered his third double-double with 17 points and a game-high 12 rebounds to lead the Hood College men's basketball team (5-4) to a 68-63 nonconference victory over visiting Washington College (4-6) Saturday afternoon.

The Blazers never trailed in the game and enjoyed as much as a 19-point advantage but had to hold off a late charge by the Shoremen to secure their fourth home win of the season at Fort Detrick's Odom Fitness Center. Hood clamped down on the Shoremen early, forcing the visitors to rush several shots with the shot clock winding down, and built a 31-15 lead at intermission. Senior Tyler Snoots was a factor throughout the first half, hitting 2-of-5 from the floor and 6-of-11 from the foul line en route to a 10-point first half.

The Shoremen turned things around in the second half, connecting on 11 of their first 14 shots in the first 8:23 as the Blazers saw their double-figure lead evaporate into just a two-point edge (43-41) at the 11:37 mark. Although the Shoremen closed to within one, 50-49, on a Kevin Breslin layup, Washington was unable to grab the lead from the Blazers. A pair of layups by Snoots and three free throws by Stone boosted the Blazer lead back to eight with a little more than five minutes to play.

With 2:44 to go in regulation, Stone fought hard under the basket and finally managed to put back his own miss to extend the Hood lead to nine. But that would be Hood's final field goal of the game, as the Shoremen forced the Blazers to make free throws down the stretch. Hood, which finished 32-of-47 on the afternoon from the stripe, connected on 7-of-12 down the stretch to clinch the hard-fought victory.

Hood shot just 17-of-47 (.362) for the game, compared to WC's 27-of-66 effort (.409), but the Shoremen attempted just eight foul shots in the game, making five of them. Hood also dominated the glass, pulling down 52 rebounds, while Washington tallied 26.

Stone made just 3-of-10 from the floor but cashed in at the line, hitting 11-of-14 attempts. Snoots finished with 14 points and seven rebounds while Cameron Cook chipped in 10 points and a season-high eight boards.

Washington's Breslin led all scorers with 22 points, 16 of which came in the second half.

Hood returns to action Thursday, Dec. 30, at the Randolph-Macon Coaches Classic sponsored by Kay Jewelers. The Blazers and Yellow Jackets square off at 7 p.m.