WASHINGTON, Pa.--Sophomore Reggie Daniels drained a game-tying 27-footer at the buzzer in regulation and junior Justin Bowens hit what proved to be the game-winning basket with eight seconds left in overtime as the Hood College men's basketball team (1-1) escaped with a 71-70 overtime victory over Washington & Jefferson College (0-2) Sunday in the consolation game of the Washington Area Credit Union Tournament.
The Blazers, playing in their second overtime game in as many days, trailed for the final 5:27 of the second half before Daniels' long distance heave drew Hood even. With new energy on the strength of Daniels' heroics, Hood got on the board first in overtime on two free throws by Jeremy Veres and never trailed in the extra frame. Hood went up six, 69-63, with 30 seconds to go on a Bowens layup, but the Presidents wouldn't go down without a fight.
W&J's Zach Bellhy hit a quick layup with 25 ticks left and the Presidents called timeout. Bellhy fouled Veres on the inbounds play but Veres was unable to convert either free throw attempt and Nate Bellhy came down with the board off the second miss. Mike Resnik drained a jumper with 11 seconds left to close within two. Bowens came up big with his third field goal of the day off an assist by Veres with eight seconds to go to make it a four-point game. On W&J's next possession, Zach Bellhy knocked down a triple to cut it to one, but the Blazers were able to dribble out the clock and eke out the win.
W&J doubled up the Blazers in the opening minutes of the contest, outscoring Hood by a 12-6 margin 7:40 into the first half. Hood's largest deficit was nine but the Blazers were able to claw back into it and took their first lead of the game (20-19) at the 6:45 mark on back-to-back layups by Veres and Trey Quinn. Hood turned the tables on the Presidents and found themselves up seven on three straight triples, one by Matt Galloway and two by Cameron Cook, and led 29-25 at the break.
The Presidents held the Blazers to just 2-of-13 shooting over the first nine minutes of the second half and leapfrogged the Blazers, 38-35, on a jumper by Nate Bellhy and a free throw by Zach Bellhy. The lead changed hands twice more and the two teams were also deadlocked twice over the final 10 minutes of regulation.
Down the stretch and down by three, Hood's Cook fouled Mike Resnik with 25 seconds left. Resnick nailed both foul shots to put W&J up five. At the other end with 15 seconds left, Bowens came up big by getting a jumper to go and drawing contact for an old-fashioned three-point play. Bowens made the free throw and Hood called timeout.
Out of the huddle, Bowens fouled Zach Bellhy immediately and he went to the stripe for two. Bellhy missed the first and made the second, which left the door open for Hood with 15 seconds left. Hood was unable to get a shot off for the first 11 seconds and called timeout with four ticks remaining. Daniels, who had only one three-point field goal attempt in his Hood career coming into today's game (vs. Ohio Northern, Nov. 19, 2011), got the desperation shot to fall which set up the overtime period.
Daniels finished with nine points and five rebounds while Bowens netted seven points and three boards. Cook, who led the Blazers with 17 points and five three-pointers, represented Hood on the all-tournament team. Veres finished with 12 points, five assists and two blocks, while Quinn contributed 10 points, eight rebounds, four steals and two assists. Asa Smith collected four steals, three blocks, three boards and an assist off the bench.
W&J was led by all-tournament selection Zach Bellhy who led all scorers with 27 points on 11-of-18 from the floor.
Hood returns to action Tuesday for its home opener against Immaculata University at 7 p.m. at BB&T Arena.