GREENSBURG, Pa. - The Hood College men's basketball team received career highs from Trumaine Strickland (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) and Christopher Smalls (Washington, D.C./St. Andrew's Episcopal), who combined for 46 points, in an 88-77 victory at Pitt-Greensburg in non-conference action. 

Inside the Box Score

• Strickland's 25 points are the most for a Blazer this year. The senior went 8-of-15 from the field with three 3-pointers and sank all six of his free throws. 
• Smalls poured in 21 points thanks to a 7-of-11 day shooting that featured a 5-of-8 performance from 3-point range. 
• Garrison Linton (New Market, Md./Oakdale) paced Hood with 10 rebounds, seven assists and three steals. 
• Soren Almquist (Oakton, Va./James Madison) came off the bench for 11 points and two blocked shots. 

How it Happened

• Hood led just 74-72 with 6:19 to play before closing the game with a 14-5 run. The Blazers hit six straight field goals during a stretch of 5:30, led by eight points from Almquist. Teh Bobcats, meanwhile, sent just 2-for-8 down the stretch, with the second field goal coming a 3-pointer by Matt Marinchak with 55 seconds remaining and the outcome decided. 
• Pitt-Greensburg went cold in the closing minutes after turning in a red-hot performance over the previous three minutes. The Bobcats nearly erased a 68-55 Hood lead by hitting five consecutive 3-point shots. Marinchak had 14 points in the 17-6 run, including the 3-point shot that pulled Pitt-Greensburg within 74-72. 
• Hood opened the second half with a 19-8 surge that turned a 40-37 halftime lead into a 59-45 advantage after a steal and a layup by Strickland with 13:43 left in the game. 
• In the first half, Octavius Hardy made a layup to give the Bobcats a 14-11 lead with 11:35 to go in the first half, Hood went on a 14-3 run. Strickland scored eight straight points for the Blazers during the run, resulting in a 25-17 lead with 7:49 on the clock. 
• From there, the Bobcats went on a 15-5 run, including three 3-pointers by Armend Karpuzi, to take a 32-30 edge with 2:29 to go. Pitt-Greensburg led 34-32 after Reggie Priah scored at 1:49 but Hood closed the half with eight points in the final 1:27 to take a three-point lead into halftime. 

Analysis

• Both teams had strong afternoons from long range. The Blazers went 15-for-39 from 3-point range (39 percent), while the Bobcats were 17-for-36 (47 percent).
• Hood won the turnover battle, committing just nine and forcing 21. The Blazers turned the disparity into a 32-10 advantage in points off turnovers. 
• Led by Almquist, Hood's bench outscored Pitt-Greensburg's 23-11. 

For the Opponent

• Marinchak went 9-for-15 from 3-point range to score a game-high 27 points for the Bobcats. 
• Karpuzi added six 3-pointers and finished with 20 points. 
• Micah Jones had nine rebounds and five assists. 

Notes

• The win evened the Blazers' record at 3-3. 
• Pitt-Greensburg fell to 2-4. 

Up Next
Hood opens Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth action when Stevenson visits the Ronald J. Volpe Athletic Center on November 30 for a 6 p.m. tip off.