FREDERICK, Md. – Garrison Linton (New Market, Md./Oakdale) hits the catch and shoot buzzer beater with less than a second left in OT to take down Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth leader York College of Pennsylvania 95-93 in Woodsboro Bank Arena on Saturday afternoon.

Inside the Box Score

Garrett Cox (Glen Allen, VA/Glen Allen) dropped a career-high 32 points and added 10 rebounds for the double-double.

Jevon Yarbrough (Williamsport, Md./Williamsport) had 18 points on the day and shot 7-for-11.

Garrison Linton (New Market, Md./Oakdale) scored 16 with six assists.
 
How it Happened
Jayden Rowe of York felt at any range early he could shoot the three, hitting the team's first two big shots of the game from deep.
In the Blazers' biggest game this season, the ball found the hands of the returners who had been in these moments. Cox worked down low to earn himself a bucket while Linton's fadeaway jumper was good and later a touchdown connection to Jevon turned into a three-point play and matched the Spartans.

The Spartans played physically against what the Blazers do best and there were many plays that ended up in collision with whistles that left one side happy and the other irate.

Cox had his way in the paint, but the others were battered and bruised running into lost balls and having to get crafty to score. Hood stuck with heavy lineup changes to combat wear and tear of the York.

The challenge of winning scuffles left Hood shooting under 50 percent from the field and with York hitting from deep at such a high clip, the Blue & Grey trailed by 10 at the half.

With the possibility of letting the big game slip, the Blazers kept intensity to start the half.

With only six shots from outside the arc attempted and only one make in the previous half, Hood connected on their first three going on a 14-4 run to knot up the game and earn the home court advantage back.
Trading bucket for bucket, York's ability in the likes of Rowe and Cipalla to reach the ball at the highest point on rebounds gave the Spartans extended opportunity to respond to Hood's makes.

Linton called the ball up top and hit a turnaround jumper to bring Hood within two points, a lob to Cipalla turned into a turnover thanks to Gage Linton (Ijamsville, Md./Oakdale High School) and the presence to get low and move his man out of bounds. Garrison hit two more off balance shots to bring the score once again tied at 67 apiece.

Cipalla remained strong underneath and was prone to draws foul on his layups with contact he'd break through. With the shooting from deep on the down for the Spartans, Ciapalla's three-point plays kept the visitors in front.
 
With less than a minute remaining, York had possession and missed their chance to take the lead but with an offensive rebound they had yet another. A missed jumper by York led to a Fricka rebound and a Hood timeout.
Hood had the final possession in regulation, Linton drained clock with a dribble and stepped right for an elbow jumper that hit back iron, and we would head to overtime.

Rowe found his stroke again from the start of the game, hitting two threes to start overtime. However, his fifth foul came with three minutes left in OT on Jack Fricka (Alexandria, Va./West Potomac). With Rowe out, Fricka made his free throw and rebounded the second and scored to put the Blazers up three.

Later, Landis was fouled on a driving layup with a score of 90-88. The first foul shot didn't land and the second was negated via a lane violation and with 1:09 it was Blazer ball.

On the other end, Landis fouled out on the possession while tangled up with Cox. Cox on the double bonus proceeded to make both free throws and now a four-point lead.
 
The pilot for the Spartans had already been relit after a quiet second half of regulation, Chris Miers in close quarters in the corner made a three and more drama with 30 seconds to go.
 
With one foul shot made by Hood and a quick basket by York, the game was tied 93-93.
 
10 seconds to go, Linton looking to pass and the ball jumped off hands and landed out of bounds. At first was deemed Spartan ball, then reversed in favor of the Blazers with only 0.7 left on the clock.
 
The inbound by Fricka found Linton escaping around traffic and getting open around the corner, he received the quick catch and shoot next to the basket and the shot found glass and then basket and the crowd found joy and then floor as they stormed the court.
 

"Man, what a game. From a fan's perspective, absolute entertainment," said head coach Chad Dickman. "Credit to our guys for rebounding in the second half like they did. That's two very good teams trading blows for 45 minutes and you hate to see anyone chalk up a loss after that one. Really great college basketball game and a huge win in the conference"

Analysis

The Spartans hit seven three-pointers in the first half, they failed to make more than one in the second half of regulation and made four in OT.

York out rebounded Hood on the offensive end 15-8 for the game. Hood took over the defensive boards in the second half with the 16-4 advantage.

Hood shot better at the line at 80 percent and 24-for-30.
 
For the Opponent

Jackson Mascari scored a team-high 29 points.

Kai Cipalla followed with 26 and 13 rebounds.
 
Notes

Hood moves to 12-5, 5-1 in conference and to first in the conference.

York falls to 12-5, 5-1 in conference.

The teams will face once more this season in York, Pa. to close the regular season on February 22.

Up Next

The squad travels to the third place Alvernia Golden Wolves on January 29 to continue the conference slate with tip-off set for 7 p.m..