FREDERICK, Md.--Five players on the Hood College men's basketball team (3-1) reached double figures in the scoring column as the Blazers toppled the visiting Penn State University-Mont Alto Nittany Lions (2-3), 78-56, Monday evening in their first game in BB&T Arena.

Prior to the start of the game, Hood College president Dr. Ronald J. Volpe was on hand to participate in a ceremonial "jump ball" with Hood's Lavar Rich and Mont Alto's Dan Smay (pictured, right). President Volpe used a commemorative basketball signed by the entire Blazer men's basketball team which was imprinted with the dedication date of the brand new BB&T Arena (Nov. 4, 2011).

Rich paced the Blazers with 16 points while Cameron Cook finished with 15, Adrien Straughn and Jordan Diggs chipped in 12 apiece and Reggie Daniels came off the bench to net 11. Diggs set a career-high scoring mark while Daniels was one away from matching his in the triumph.

The Nittany Lions set the pace at the onset as four different players scored allowing Mont Alto to go up 10-7 5:39 into the opening half. The Blazers then ripped off 10 unanswered points capped by a Daniels' layup giving Hood a 17-10 lead midway through the stanza. Hood maintained its advantage until Mont Alto rallied to tie the score at 28-28 on a Keven King jumper with 2:57 left. Hood went on another big run, scoring the final 12 points of the half, and took a 40-28 lead into the break.

The Nittany Lions never recovered from the halftime deficit and got no closer than 10 the rest of the way.

Hood shot 44.8 percent from the floor and forced 34 turnovers by Mont Alto. The Blazers also won the battle of the boards, 44-32, including a 20-7 edge on the offensive glass. Justin Stone finished with five steals, five rebounds and five points while Justin Bowens tallied four points in the victory.

The Blazers host their first Capital Athletic Conference opponent, the Salisbury University Sea Gulls, Wednesday at 8 p.m. at BB&T Arena.