David Wilson led five Blazers in double-figures by eclipsing the 20-point mark for the third consecutive game with 23 and Darnell Edmonds, 15 points and career-high 12 assists, and Jesse Gutekunst, 21 points and 14 rebounds, each recorded double-doubles. Santo Provenzano also chipped in with 16 points and Dennis Tressler rounded out Hood’s double-digit scorers with 15 points—the most he’s had since Nov. 20.
The victory extends the Blazers’ longest-ever winning streak and sends them to 10-8 overall while Philadelphia Biblical sees its two-game winning streak end to fall to 7-11.
Jeremy Coleman, who entered the game averaging 25.3 points per game, led PBU with 22 and Brian Miller and Chase Byler each had 14.
After a back-and-forth first half that saw the teams head into the locker room tied at 35, Hood quickly fell behind by five, 40-35, early in the second stanza after Flor Colon drained a 3 for PBU.
The Blazers regrouped and Wilson’s four-point play highlighted a 20-7 run to give them a 55-47 advantage with 13:10 remaining. The Crimson Eagles would only get as close as four—after a Jeremy Coleman jumper with 10:29—the rest of the way.
Both teams shot well from the floor, Hood at 49.1 percent (27-for-55) and PBU at 46.2 percent (30-for-65), but the difference lied on free throw line where the Blazers converted 29-of-37 attempts while the Crimson Eagles had just 16 opportunities, converting 12.
Edmonds also had a season-high six steals and Wilson’s four 3s marked a career-high. Byler dished out seven assists to lead PBU and Coleman added nine rebounds.
Also of note, Hood is now 7-1 at home this season, after closing a perfect four-game homestand, and whenever a player has recorded a double-double, the Blazers are 9-0.
Hood will look to for its sixth win in a row when it next gets in action at regional rival Lincoln University on Wednesday. Tip-off in Philadelphia against the 11-4 Lions is set for 7 p.m.