Center Valley, PA (December 7, 2024) - Hood College scored the final nine points of the game erasing a seven-point deficit with 2:34 left to steal an 86-84 win over the DeSales University men's basketball team in non-conference action on Saturday afternoon.

The Basics

• Final Score: Hood - 86, DeSales - 84
• Records: DeSales (5-3 Overall); Hood (5-3 Overall)
• This was the second career meeting between the two teams as Hood evens the all-time series at win each.

How it Happened

• The Bulldogs struggled early as Hood raced out to a 21-13 lead 10:40 into the game.
• DeSales caught fire from there finishing the half out-scoring the Blazers, 34-13, to take a 47-34 lead into the halftime locker room.
• DSU remained ahead by double digits (56-45) at the 15:38 mark.
• Hood made several runs at the lead but still trailed by seven at the 10:41 mark after a three from first-year Luke Keppel.
• HC then scored seven straight points to the scored at 67 with 9:16 to go.
• The game went back and forth over the next four and a half minutes and remained tied at 77 with 4:45 left on the clock.
• Two free throws from first-year Jayden Thomas were followed by a jump hook from senior Caleb Gibbs, and a corner three from senior Matt Ciszkowski as DeSales took what seemed like a game cliching 84-77 lead after seven straight points with 2:34 remaining.
• Hood answered with a bucket to make it a five point game and DeSales came up empty on the other end.
• The Blazers made it a three-point game after two free throws on their next possession and the Bulldogs missed two golden opportunities to answer with a bucket missing a short jumper in the lane and point blank putback on the offensive rebound.
• Hood gathered the second miss and raced down the court for a layup to cut the lead down to one point with 54 seconds left.
• Junior Brendan Boyle was fouled in the back court on DSU's next possession sending him to the line for a 1-and-1 but missed the front end as Hood regained possession.
• Hood missed long on a three-pointer but the offensive rebound went out of bounds on DeSales giving the Blazers a second chance.
• The Blazers earned a foul on the next opportunity and knocked down both freebies with 17 seconds left giving Hood a one point lead.
• DeSales called timeout with 12 seconds left but out of the time committed a turnover and was forced to foul with 2.2 seconds left.
• Hood made the first of two free throws as the Bulldogs grabbed the rebound with 1.8 seconds remaining but a last second heave was tipped as time expired.

Top Bulldog Performers

• Gibbs led the Bulldogs with 19 points and nine rebounds and Thomas also had 19 points.
• Boyle finished with 17 points, seven assists, and five rebounds.
• Ciszkowski had 12 points and Keppel came off the bench to also score 12 points.

For the Foes

• Garrison Linton was the game's high scorer with 24 points, adding six assists.
• Kullen Robinson finished with 16 points.
• Garrett Cox had 13 points off the bench and Jude Huseby and Jevon Yarbrough both has 12 points.

Inside the Box Score

• Both teams shot 50 percent from the field with DeSales going 27-for-54 and Hood hitting 33-for-66.
• The Bulldogs were 14-for-32 (43.8 percent) from outside the arc and Hood hit 8-for-15 (53.3 percent) from deep in the second-half.
• Hood had a 40-24 advantage in points in the paint.

Up Next

• The Bulldogs are not back in action for three weeks hosting Mary Washington on December 28th beginning at 4:00 pm.