FREDERICK, Md.—The Hood College men's basketball team (10-5, 2-4 CAC) got back on the winning track with a key non-conference victory over Delaware Valley (2-12, 0-4 MAC). The 65-47 victory was Hood's final game out of conference and gave the Blazers its best non-conference record in school history with an 8-1 mark.
Hood has clearly been very strong outside of the Capital Athletic Conference and Monday night was no different. Senior forward LaVar Rich had a career-high scoring 28 points on 9-of-12 shooting. Rich also went to line 15 times and converted 10 of his shots. The Blazers as a team shot 20-30 from the line, which was much improved over their last two outings. Junior forward Justin Stone also had a very solid game for the blue-and-grey as he tallied a double-double with 13 points and 13 boards. The double-double was the fifth of Stone's career. The Aggies were led by Nathan Bollinger, who scored a team-high 19.
Both teams started very sluggish from the floor as both were having a tough time finding the net. Rich broke a 10-10 tie with two free throws and scored eight straight Blazer points including a layup to give Hood an 18-16 lead. Hood continued to push its lead when senior Ramon Smith hit a nice fadeaway jumper with a little over a minute remaining to give Hood its largest lead of the half at 26-18.
Hood came out in the second half and had pushed its lead to 10 after a thunderous dunk by Rich off great ball movement in the half-court offense. Sophomore guard Cameron Cook pushed the lead to 45-29 with a made three at the 11:54 mark. Delaware Valley then put together a 13-2 run led by three Hollinger threes to pull the Aggies within five. Delaware Valley would get no closer the rest of the game as Hood went on an 18-5 run over the last 8:44 to win going away.
The Blazers outrebounded Delaware Valley 43-32 and also forced 17 Aggie turnovers but committed 16 as well.
The Blazers travel to the University of Mary Washington Wednesday to face the first-place Eagles at 8 p.m. Then Saturday, Hood will look to avenge a loss from earlier in the season when it takes on CAC foe Wesley College at BB&T Arena. Both are crucial conference games for the Blazers in need of a league win after dropping their last three conference matchups. Saturday's game is set for a 2 p.m. tip.