ANNVILLE, Md. - A 3-point play by Daniel Wegener (Falling Waters, W.Va. / Broadfording Christian) with 38 seconds left in overtime broke a tie and helped Hood College to an 83-80 win at Lebanon Valley in Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth action.
Tanner Ruths (Stephens City, Va. / Sherando) had another big game for the Blazers. The junior had career-highs with 16 points and seven assists; and added six rebounds and three steals. He shot 7-of-9 from the floor.
Four other players reached double figures for Hood. Jared Ruiz (Frederick, Md. / Oakdale) hit 6-of-12 field goals, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range, to finish with 15 points. Wegener ended the night with 11 points. Ian Eversull (Ijamsville, Md. / Urbana) and Davon Hill (Clinton, Md. / Potomac School) both scored 10 points.
While Hood had a balanced night offensively, Lebanon Valley relied on a huge game from Sam Light. Light poured in 39 points, converted 13-of-22 field goals and knocked down 8-of-15 3-pointers. Andy Orr had a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds. He blocked six shots.
A layup by Will Boccanfuso gave the Dutchmen a 77-75 lead with 2:06 to go in overtime. With 1:35 to play, Ruths stole the ball and went in for an easy lay up to tie the game at 77-77. A minute later, Hill found Wegener on block, who scored and was fouled. The big man sank the free throw for a three-point lead. Zach Mrozek scored, was fouled and made the free throw with six seconds left to trim Hood's lead to 81-80. Lebanon Valley was forced to foul and Hill sank both free throws to ice the game.
Hood trailed by as many as seven points in the second half before battling back to tie the game at 61-61 on a lay up by Michael Robinson (Upper Marlboro, Md. / Pallotti) with 7:41 left. A 3-pointer by Ruiz followed for a three-point lead with just under seven minutes remaining. Back-to-back threes by Light gave the Dutchmen a 69-66 edge with 3:51 to go. Hood tied the game with 34 seconds left on a lay up by Trevor Magnuski (Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Cumberland Valley) to send the game to overtime.
In the first half, Hood jumped ahead early, 12-6, but Lebanon Valley led 34-32 at the intermission.
The Blazers held a 44-35 advantage in rebounding. Hood scored 40 points in the paint. Aside from Light's 3-pointing shooting, the rest of the Dutchmen went just 1-of-14 from deep. Hood had the better night behind the arc, shooting 9-of-23 (39 percent), compared to 9-of-29 (31 percent) for the Dutchmen.
Led by Hill's 10 points, the Blazer bench outscored Lebanon Valley's 27-2.
The win improved Hood to 10-8 overall and 4-5 in the MAC Commonwealth. It gave the Blazers a season sweep of the Dutchmen.
Hood hosts Albright for Senior Day on Saturday, January 30 at 3 p.m. at BB&T Arena.