News Release

FREDERICK, Md. — Santo Provenzano and Jesse Gutekunst combined to power the Hood College men’s basketball team to an 84-76 win over Waynesburg College on Saturday night.

Provenzano matched his season scoring average with 27 points—23 of which came in the second half—and Jesse Gutekunst recorded his first career double-double with 17 points and 18 boards to go along with four blocks to lead the Blazers to their third straight win and to 5-2 overall. David Wilson chipped in with 14 points and Darnell Edmonds dished out a season-high eight assists for Hood while Marc Lodovico led Waynesburg (1-4) with 19 points.

The Blazers, who are undefeated at home this year at 3-0, also held a commanding 52-36 edge on the boards and shot a season-best 81.1 percent (30-for-37) from the line.

Waynesburg held a 42-35 lead at the break and after trading buckets with Hood to open the second half, led 45-40 with 18:41 remaining. That’s when the Blazers got back on track and eventually gained the lead for the first time since early in the first half when Provenzano hit a short jumper for a 48-47 lead with 15:18 to go.

The Blazers would not trail again and took control of the shortly thereafter with a 9-0 run over a one minute, 58-second span to go ahead 61-50 with 11:45 remaining.

The Yellow Jackets pulled with six points with 6:36 to go after Jeff Nero hit a pair of free throws, but Hood responded with a 12-0 run to take its biggest lead of the night at 78-66 with just over two minutes to go.

The game, which started 29 minutes late due to electrical difficulties, featured 50 fouls and 48 turnovers.

The Blazers conclude their three-game homestand Tuesday against Bethany College. Tip-off at Gov. Thomas Johnson High School is set for 7 p.m.