OWINGS MILLS, Md.--Greg Woody's fall-away jumper at the buzzer lifted the Stevenson University Mustangs (2-2) to a 65-64 win over the Hood College men's basketball team (2-2) in the third-place game of the Pride of Maryland Tournament Saturday.
After trading baskets in the opening minutes of the contest, the Blazers took control and led virtually the entire game. After a Brendan Straughn jumper at the 4:02 mark of the second half put the Blazers on top 58-54, Stevenson's Stefan McCray swished a jumper and Andrew Bishop converted a layup to knot the game at 58-58 with 1:36 to go in regulation. On Hood's next possession, Straughn got a layup to go at the other end and drew the foul. His foul shot was off the mark and after the Mustangs pulled down the carom, Woody drained a three to give the Mustangs their first lead since the early moments of the first half, and Stevenson called timeout.
Hood and Stevenson traded a pair of foul shots on their respective possessions which once again put the Mustangs up by one, 63-62, with 16 seconds left. The Blazers called Straughn's number once again as he drove to the hoop and converted a layup, but it was waived off as the officials whistled Nick Desouza for a foul on Straughn before the basket. Straughn hit the front end of the 1-and-1 opportunity to tie the game and Stevenson called another timeout to set the defense. Out of the timeout, Straughn hit the back end as well, giving Hood a 64-63 edge with seven seconds left. Woody grabbed the inbounds pass and drove coast-to-coast and around several Hood defenders, putting up the game-winning jumper from the right block as the game clock expired.
Straughn, who represented Hood on the all-tournament team, finished with a game-high 24 points and played all 40 minutes. Sophomore Justin Stone registered his second career double-double with 14 points and a career-high-tying 12 rebounds to go along with five steals.
Hood returns to action Wednesday, Dec. 1, when it opens Capital Athletic Conference action at Salisbury University at 8 p.m.