READING, Pa. – With three seconds remaining in the second half, sophomore
Samuel Majekodunmi hit a three-pointer for a 78-75 thrilling MAC Commonwealth win over Hood on Saturday afternoon.
The Lions improve to 5-3 overall and 2-1 in MAC Commonwealth play and give the Blazers their first loss of the season as they fall to 8-1 and 1-1.
Junior
Troy Smoot posted 25 points, 21 from beyond the arc, to lead the Lions offensively after shooting 8-of-11 from the floor. Junior
Isaiah Harris posted a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds in the victory and Majekodunmi followed with 23 points total to round out the top three scorers for the Lions.
The Blazers captured the first basket of the game, coming from Christopher Smalls to put Hood up briefly before Majekodunmi scored from beyond the arc three minutes into the game. At the 14:03-mark, he scored from three again to put the Lions ahead for the remainder of the half, although Hood came back to tie the game at the 7:31-mark at 24 apiece. Smoot made three from beyond the arc in a span of 1:47 at the end of the half, lifting the Lions to a 39-37 lead going into the locker rooms.
Just 1:07 into the second half, Hood's Mason Wang tied the game up at 41 apiece before his brother, Evan Wang, scored from beyond the arc for the Blazers to take a 44-41 lead at the 17:42-mark. Hood held Albright without a point for the next three minutes to score nine points for a 53-45 lead. Another 6-2 Hood run starting at the 14:30-mark increased the lead to as much as nine at the 12:22 and again with 9:47 on the clock. A pair of good layups from Harris sparked the Lions' comeback with nine minutes remaining in the game. Smoot again hit a shot from three to put the game within two points at the 5:30-mark and the Lions tied up the game with just 45 seconds on the clock after Harris made a free throw. A missed shot by Hood with 16 seconds remaining created an opportunity for Majekodunmi to grab the rebound and head to the other end of the court before sinking a three with three seconds left, which Hood was unable to respond to.
The Lions shot 45 percent (25-of-55) from the floor and 44 percent (11-of-25) from beyond the arc while shooting 60 percent (17-of-28) from the free throw line. The Blazers went 26-of-55 (47.3%) from the field, 10-of-33 (30.3%) from three, and 13-of-19 (68.4%) from the line.
Mason Wang led the Blazers with a career-high 36 points, while Michael Riley scored 18 points and Evan Wang tallied 13 points on the day.
Albright men's basketball is travelling to San Juan, Puerto Rico for two games in the Puerto Rico Classico next week. The Lions will face Carthage College on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 12:30 p.m. and Shenandoah University on Thursday, Dec. 19 at 9:30 a.m.
