FREDERICK, Md. – Hood's Men's Basketball team led the game for over 32 minutes against a tough Johns Hopkins team who received votes in the first poll but were outlasted by the Blue Jays late in the second half with a score of 79-75 on Tuesday night.
Inside the Box Score
Kullen Robinson (Alexandria, Va./Alexandria City) went 7-for-9 from the field and scored 15 points.
Garrett Cox (Glen Allen, VA/Glen Allen) scored 14 including a handful of threes in his season debut.
Jack Fricka (Alexandria, Va./West Potomac) scored nine and pulled down 9 rebounds.
How it Happened
The home turf rhythm continued for the Blazers, starting fast and shooting efficiently.
But with shooting one end, the other involved the defensive effort the Blazers had needed. Quick decision-making for the opposition turned into turnovers by different Blazers and led to quick scores. Garrison Linton (New Market, Md./Oakdale), Cox, and Jevon Yarbrough (Williamsport, Md./Williamsport) all collected steals that led to a Blazer score on the other end. The kind of work that would prevent another game resulting in the opponent flirting with triple digits.
A sub was made to bring depth in and once Karron Mallory (Manchester, Pa./Northeastern) got the ball in his hands he made a three near the scorers table and two possessions later in fastbreak made a shifty layup to take a lead 17-13.
Cox made his return known burying a pair of threes and knocking down his share of free throws to pad the hot offense.
Back-to-back scores by Yarbrough pushed the lead to 19 points with five minutes to go in the second half and including the hot streak and the 24-5 run throughout the first half into its closing minutes.
The second half included early foul trouble for the Blazers and put the Blue Jays in position to chip away at the Blazers' lead. Cox made two blocks down the stretch to combat this and implement the defensive flare that was being sought after.
The tempo turned from fast and successful, to slowed down and full of discomfort finding the open man.
"We got caught playing their style way too much," said head coach Chad Dickman. "We had nice rhythm in the first half and we got too tentative in the second."
Hood's lead kept just until the two-minute mark where a possession for Johns Hopkins looked like they were going to turn the ball over after it pinballed through the crowd but found Williams and he turned it into a three-point play to shift the game 69-70 and two buckets at the line put Johns Hopkins ahead.
With 12 seconds left, the Blazers trailed by three points and the ball at the top of the key. A pass towards the back court hit the back of the hand of Williams of the Blue Jays which turned into a steal and a fastbreak dunk to shut the door on the contest.
"They are a good team," said Dickman. "I believe we outplayed them, but didn't make the plays we needed to win it in the closing minutes."
For the Opponent
Brian Johannson dropped 21 points and dished three assists.
John Windley scored 20 and fouled out in the second half.
Charlie Jackson shot 10-for-13 at the line with 6 boards and four assists.
Analysis
Efficiency in shooting flipped for both squads between halves, Hood shot 56 percent in the first half and dropped to 45 percent in the second while Hopkins went from 33 percent with an uptick to 48 in the second half.
The Blue Jays made 18 free throws in the second half.
The Blazers only grabbed six offensive rebounds the entire game.
Notes
After winning their first four, Hood has dropped their third straight to go 4-3, 0-0 on the season.
Johns Hopkins moves to 4-3 on the season.
Up Next
The Blazers face the other side of the MAC with a date with DeSales at their place on Saturday, November 7 with a 3 p.m. tip-off.