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HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. -- Sophomore Jack Wyatt/Richmond scored a game-high 23 points, adding nine rebounds, to lead Hampden-Sydney College to a 77-72 non-conference basketball home win past Hood (Md.) College on Sunday afternoon at S. Douglas Fleet Gymnasium. Freshman Ryan Clements/Conyers, Ga. just missed a triple-double with 19 points, nine rebounds and a game-high and career-high eight assists for the Tigers (5-5), who won their fourth consecutive game while already surpassing their season win-total (4) from a year ago. Mason Wang scored 20 points for the visiting Blazers (8-2) on the first day of the College's Holiday Classic.
"Great win coming back from the holiday break," said first-year head coach Caleb Kimbrough. "It wasn't always pretty, but we found a way. Hood is a really good team. Very excited we could pull it out."
H-SC scored the first five points of the game as junior captain Jake Hahn/Ruckersville made a layup and senior captain Kevin Quinn/Apex, N.C. came off the bench to add a three-point field goal at 16:36. The Tigers pushed their advantage to 11-5 at 14:48 following another three-pointer, this time from senior Chaise Johnson/Richmond, off the bench, as well, and the hosts led 17-11 after a jumper by Wyatt at 10:45. Hood used a quick 11-4 run to lead 22-21 at 8:30, but H-SC battled back with a 12-4 run to lead 33-26 with 4:35 left in the half, getting points from four different players. The Blazers, however, closed the opening period with a 16-4 run to lead 42-37 at the intermission.
Hood took its largest lead of the contest at 45-37 after opening the second half with a three-pointer at 19:32. H-SC responded with an 18-6 run to go ahead 55-51 with 12:56 remaining. Wyatt scored seven of the points, while Quinn, Clements and Johnson each contributed three-pointers, along with a basket inside from Hahn. The closely-played affair was tied at 57-57 with 11:06 on the clock, before the Tigers took control with a 12-6 run to lead 69-63 with 4:04 left to play. Five different players scored during the quick outburst, started by Johnson with another three-pointer and closed by Quinn with a three-pointer of his own. The Blazers did get within 71-69 at 1:40, but Clements helped secure the outcome with 4-4 free throws during the final minute, and Wyatt finished the scoring with a late layup.
Wyatt led H-SC with his game-high 23 points, including 9-10 free throws, adding nine rebounds. Clements just missed a triple-double—finishing with 19 points to equal his career-high, adding nine rebounds and a game-high and career-high eight assists—along with three steals to equal his career-high for the Tigers. Hahn had 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for his sixth double-double this season, adding six assists to equal his career-high, as well, while Johnson contributed 12 points, including 4-4 three-pointers, and Quinn added nine points. H-SC shot 42% (28-66) from the field, including 35% (8-23) on three-pointers, and 72% (13-18) at the free throw line. The Tigers enjoyed a 34-22 advantage in points scored in the paint, 11-2 in points off turnovers and 23-12 in bench points.
Wang led Hood with his 20 points. Michael Riley finished with 17 points for the Blazers. Hood shot 46% (25-55) from the field, including 43% (13-30) on three-pointers, and 47% (9-19) at the line.
H-SC remains at home tomorrow afternoon, Monday, December 30, to host day two of the Holiday Classic in Fleet Gym. The Tigers will play Sewanee (Tenn.) at 2 p.m., while fellow Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) member Ferrum will face Hood at 4 p.m. Ferrum defeated Sewanee 73-69 in overtime during the second game on Sunday.
