Hood 83, Lebanon Valley 80 (OT)

LVC Starters
Light, Orr, Conrad, Boccanfuso, Mrozek

Hood Starters
Ruths, Ruiz, Wegener, Eversull, Magnuski

How It Happened
Hood spoiled Sam Light's career night by defeating Lebanon Valley 83-80 in an overtime thriller on Wednesday night.

Light netted a career-high 39 points and buried eight 3-pointers for the Flying Dutchmen (12-7, 6-4 MAC Commonwealth) but it wasn't enough as the Blazers (10-8, 4-5 MAC Commonwealth) used a crucial 6-0 run in overtime to escape Sorrentino Gymnasium with the victory.

A darting Will Boccanfuso converted a layup off a timely find from Andy Orr with 2:06 left in overtime to put LVC ahead 77-75. From there, the Dutchmen went cold offensively and Hood netted back-to-back layups, including an old-fashioned 3-point play, to put it away in crunch time.

The Blazers had an opportunity to win it in regulation when Trevor Magnuski grabbed a long rebound and raced towards the other end but Orr's emphatic block just moments before the second half buzzer sounded sent the game to an extra session.

Light was unconscious in the second half, scoring 23 of his game-high 39 after the break. He scored 13 of the team's first 15 second half points and helped push LVC's lead to its largest of the night at 50-43 with 14:45 left to play.

Hood's defense held tight, however, limiting every Dutchman not named Light to contested looks. The Blazers kept the deficit manageable and eventually pulled in front by three with 5:49 remaining.

Light had an answer, however, and buried consecutive triples to put Lebanon Valley back in front 69-66 with less than four minutes to play. Zach Mrozek knocked down a pair of free throws to up LVC's advantage to 71-67 with 1:27 remaining but buckets on back-to-back possessions drew the Blazers even with 34 seconds left.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with neither squad gaining an advantage of more than six tallies. Orr capped the half's scoring with an old-fashioned 3-point play off a Boccanfuso assist at the 1:28 mark and the Dutchmen took a 34-32 lead into the break.

Turning Point
Leading 77-75 with 1:36 remaining in overtime, Lebanon Valley turned it over, leading to a fast break, game-tying layup on the other end for Hood. It was the start of a key 6-0 run for the Blazers capped by Daniel Wegener's old-fashioned 3-point play that gave the visitors an 80-77 advantage with 38 seconds left. With his team down four, Zach Mrozek answered with an and-one of his own with six seconds left but it wasn't enough as the Dutchmen failed to get a shot off on their final possession.

Top Performer
Sam Light – The sophomore has proven a capable scorer on a number of occasions this season but he was in another world on Wednesday night. Light poured in a career-high 39 points, including 23 in the second half, and drained eight jumpers from beyond the arc to go along with his game-high four steals.

Inside the Numbers
- LVC coaches wore sneakers with their suits in support of the NABC's annual Coaches vs. Cancer week.
- Sam Light's eight 3-pointers made were the second-highest single-game total in program history. Kyle Enoch holds the program record with nine. Former all-American JD Byers netted eight 3-balls on three occasions.
- Light's 30-point game is the third by a Dutchman this season. Andy Orr accounted for the other two.
- Orr recorded his sixth double-double of the season thanks to his 18 points and 12 rebounds. He also had a career-high six blocks.
- Zach Mrozek netted 12, pulled down eight rebounds, and dished out a team-high six assists.
- LVC lost the rebounding battle 44-to-35. Similarly, Hood scored 40 points in the paint compared to 26 by the Dutchmen.
- The Blazers' reserves outscored the Lebanon Valley bench 27-to-2.
- Wednesday's contest was Lebanon Valley's first overtime game since Nov. 11, 2011 against Messiah.
- Five Blazers reached the double-digit scoring mark, led by Tanner Ruths' 16 points.

Who's Next?
LVC gets a rare weekend off before heading to Widener next Wednesday night.