CHESTER, Pa. – The Hood College men's basketball team started the new year and Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth play off on the right foot, taking down the Pride of Widener University 78-61 on the road.

Inside the Box Score
Jevon Yarbrough (Williamsport, Md./Williamsport) led the Blazers with 19 points, shooting 9-14 from the field.

Garrett Cox (Glen Allen, VA/Glen Allen) finished the game with 12 points.

Garrison Linton (New Market, Md./Oakdale) was all over the court, leading the team with 11 rebounds and seven assists, scoring eight himself.

Karron Mallory (Manchester, Pa./Northeastern) ended the evening with 10 points.

How it Happened
Hood started the game hot, spreading the ball around to create good chances while racing out to a 15-5 lead just over six minutes into the game.

Their lead had shrunk to just 20-16 halfway into the first, and Widener managed to tie it up with six minutes to go. A 7-0 run over the next minute and a half would give the Blazers momentum though, and they would keep that going the rest of the way to take a 40-34 lead through the first 20 minutes.

After a back and forth start to the second half, Hood would begin to pull away for good, as a Cox dunk sparked a 14-2 run to put the Blazers ahead 59-41 with 11 minutes left.

The Pride would not cut Hood's lead to single digits the rest of the way, as the Blazers kept their foot on the gas en route to a 78-61 win.

"Great win on the road to start the conference slate. Thought our guys' energy was fantastic and we controlled the glass in the second half to put it out of reach." said head coach Chad Dickman following the win.

For the Opponent
Myles Bright finished with 10 points and eight rebounds.

Jacob Ayree scored 12 points for the Pride.

Analysis
Hood shot 46 percent from the field and 41 percent from three-point range, compared to just 36 percent and 29 percent for Widener.

The Blazers outrebounded the Pride 44-35.

Hood controlled the paint, scoring 36 points from under the rim, while Widener scored just 24.

Notes
The Blazers improve to 8-4 (1-0), while the Pride fall to 2-10 (0-1).

Up Next
The team returns home for a MAC Commonwealth game against Messiah University Saturday, January 11 at 3 p.m.