The Blazers shot 8-for-29 (27.6 percent) in the second half and went just 2-for-12 from 3-point land as the Lions outscored Hood, 44-23, in the second half to earn the season split. Hood’s loss is its 10th in 13 games away from home as it dips below .500 on the season to 11-12. The Lions, who lost to Hood 76-57 earlier this season, improve to 7-15.
Santo Provenzano led the Blazers with 27 points and Jesse Gutekunst was their only other double-digit performer with 10. Ethan Stewart-Smith paced PSU-Altoona with 27 points and Tyler Franklin wasn’t far behind with 26.
The Lions, led by Barry Minemyer’s game-high 14 rebounds, held a 34-23 advantage on the boards and, while Hood struggled shooting the ball in the second stanza, they hit 14-of-27 shots (51.9 percent) to turn the game around.
Hood pushed its lead to as many as 11 three times early in the second half, the last time coming with 15:03 remaining after David Wilson’s layup to give it a 45-34 lead. PSU-Altoona, however, came storming back and used a 24-6 run over the next 10 minutes, 36 seconds to take a 58-51 advantage.
The Lions then increased their lead to as many 18, after a Franklin layup with 18 seconds to go, before settling for the final margin.
Provenzano and Gutekunst shared the team lead on the boards for Hood with five each and Darnell Edmonds had two assists and four steals.
Hood returns home for its final two games, both of which will be played at Frederick Community College. The Blazers will host Averett University on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at FCC and will close out their season Saturday at 3 p.m. at FCC in the second half of doubleheader against Chestnut Hill College.