ARLINGTON, Va. - Hood College's Scott Bolen (Ashton, Md. / Sherwood) had a debut to remember, hitting the winning free throws with 4.2 seconds left for the final of his game-high 18 points in a 66-64 win at Marymount (Va.).
The junior transfer finished 6-of-11 from the floor, including 4-of-8 from 3-point range.
Davon Hill (Clinton, Md. / Potomac School) scored 15 points, including a dozen in the second half, and dished out a game-high seven assists. Ian Eversull (Ijamsville, Md. / Urbana) came off the bench for 10 first half points. Luke Casey (Nanticoke, Pa. / Crestwood) hauled in seven rebounds.
The victory gave new Hood head coach Chad Dickman a win in his first college game.
Dmitri Rucker had 17 points and seven blocks to lead Marymount. D'Ondre Stockman and Danny Ferry each hit four 3-pointers. Ferry finished with 14 points and Stockman added a dozen. Rick Narcisse grabbed 10 boards.
The second half opened with a pair of 3-point field goals by Stockman as part of an 15-4 run that put Marymount on top 45-37 with 11:51 to go in the game. Hill later scored six straight points cut the deficit to 48-45 with 9:30 remaining. Ruiz tied the game 45 seconds later on his first career 3-pointer. Bolen nailed a three on the next trip down the floor for a 51-48 advantage. After two free throws by Hill, another three by Bolen made it 56-49 with seven minutes to play.
As in the first half, Marymount chipped away at the lead, tying the game on a bucket by Rucker with 2:28 on the game clock.
The score remained that way until a turnaround jumper by Hill with 56 seconds left gave Hood a 64-62 edge.
It was Rucker again with 35 seconds remaining who scored to tie the game. He was fouled, missed the free throw, but Marymount got the board. Stockman could not connect on a three with 13 seconds left and Bolen grabbed the rebound. He drove to the other end and was fouled with 4.2 seconds on the clock. The junior sank both foul shots for a 66-64 lead.
In the first half Bolen scored Hood's first five points as the Blazers jumped out to an early 8-3 lead. The Saints climbed back and took a 12-10 lead, but a 3-pointer by Hill put Hood ahead with 12:06 left.
As the two teams traded leads, the Blazers got a spark from Eversull. The freshman gave Hood a 15-14 lead, then drew a charge with less than 11 minutes left. Bolen hit him on consecutive possessions for two more layups as Hood went ahead 21-20 with eight minutes left in the half.
Those two field goals were part of a 13-4 run that put the Blazers ahead 30-22 with 3:35 to go in the half. Marymount scored the next eight points and tied it at 30-30 on three point play by Rucker with a minute on the clock. Ruiz answered with a three point play of his own 11 seconds later for a 33-30 lead at the half.
Hood will look to stay in the win column on November 21 when they play the hosts from Frostburg in the FSU Tournament on November 20.