News Release

READING, Pa. — Santo Provenzano scored 27 points to lead four Blazers in double-digits and the Hood College men’s basketball team outlasted Rutgers-Camden, 78-72, on Saturday in the consolation final of the Dr. Kleppinger Top-Off Classic at Alvernia College.

Provenzano’s effort earned him a spot on the All-Tournament team and also evened Hood’s record at 1-1. Dennis Tressler followed with 17 points for Hood (1-1) and Sean Robine had a double-double with 13 points and 11 boards. David Wilson rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 and freshman Jesse Gutekunst hauled in 14 boards in just 18 minutes of play to help the Blazers to an astounding 55-19 edge on the boards.

Hood, which lost to No. 13 John Carroll University on Friday, shot 54.7 percent from the floor and held Rutgers-Camden to just 35.3 percent shooting, but the Blazers were almost undone by their 34 turnovers.

The Scarlet Raptors (0-2) trailed Hood 64-50 with 8:26 remaining, but rallied and went on a 17-3 run over the next four minutes, 26 seconds to tie the game at 67-67. During that stretch, Hood turned the ball over three times and missed its only shot from the floor.

The Blazers regrouped on a trey from Robine and they never trailed again, thanks in large part to a pair of put-backs in the final two minutes from Gutekunst.

Hood gets back in action Tuesday in their home opener against Mount Aloysius. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at Thomas Johnson High School.