FREDERICK, Md.--The Hood College men's basketball team (4-3, 2-1 CAC) rallied from an eight-point deficit to turn the tables on the Frostburg State University Bobcats (5-3, 1-2 CAC) and earn a 71-69 Capital Athletic Conference win Wednesday evening at the Odom Fitness Center at Fort Detrick.
After trailing by eight, 38-30, at halftime, Hood immediately erased the deficit by using a pair of old-fashioned three-point plays by Tyler Snoots and Justin Stone and a Tory Wilson layup to knot the score at 38-38 in the first 2:01. But try as they might, the Blazers were unable to leapfrog the Bobcats for the majority of the stanza.
Hood tied the Bobcats a second time after a Herb Bowen layup, but FSU countered with a triple by Maurice Williams. Later, Snoots was fouled on the way up after grabbing his own miss. He made the first free throw to tie it at 52-52, but his second foul shot which would have given Hood the lead was off the mark.
Finally, with 7:08 remaining, Justin Bowens was fouled by Mac Minturn and went to the line for two. Bowens swished both, giving the Blazers their first lead since a Cameron Cook dunk put Hood up 6-4 just 3:59 into the contest.
Hood stretched its lead to seven (69-62) with just under three minutes to play on a layup by Cook. The Bobcats wouldn't go away though as Williams drained a jumper with 1:27 left to cut the lead to 70-67. Following a Bobcat timeout, Bowen turned the ball over and the Bobcats had a chance to tie the game up once again. However Steven Ogg was unable to hang on to the ball.
After Hood misfired on its next attempt, Williams came down with the carom and after his putback wouldn't go he found Ellis Hartridge whose shot was good, making it 70-69 with 51 seconds remaining.
Hood called a timeout and after burning 32 seconds off the game clock, Bowens put up a three which was off the mark and Brian Anderson grabbed the board and was fouled. Anderson faced a 1-and-1 try, but could not get the first one to go and Snoots was there for his season-best 12th rebound. Snoots was fouled instantly and went to the line for two. He was unable to connect on either attempt, leaving the door open once again for FSU as Jamal Bracken snared the board.
But Anderson lost the ball with three seconds left, giving possession back to Hood. Anderson fouled Snoots on the inbounds, who this time made 1-of-2 from the line to make it 71-69. Frostburg called another timeout to set up a play, but Bracken lost his footing and the handle on the ball and the Blazers escaped with the win.
Stone paced the Blazers with a season-high 15 points while Snoots finished with his seventh career double-double (15 points, 12 rebounds). Bowens tallied a season-best nine points, including 7-of-8 from the line, while Cook had 12 points and registered season-highs in rebounds (6) and assists (4). Williams led the Bobcats with 11 points off the bench.
Hood next travels to St. Mary's College (Md.) Saturday to face the nationally ranked Seahawks at 4 p.m. Hood fell to the Seahawks, 77-60, in the second round of the Pride of Maryland Tournament on Nov. 19. The Blazers will attempt to stop a six-game losing skid to the Seahawks dating back to the 2007-08 season.