FREDERICK, Md. – Despite their rigorous efforts and a strong first half, the Albright men's basketball team was unable to outlast Hood on the road as they dropped an 85-72 conference matchup on Saturday afternoon
 
With the loss, the Lions fall to 5-5 in the MAC Commonwealth and 9-9 overall. Meanwhile, the Blazers continue a six-game win streak and advance to 10-1 in conference and 13-5 overall.
 
Four Lions reached double figures as senior Sidney Brown led the way with 14 points behind 6-for-16 shooting from the floor, eight rebounds, and two steals. Junior Robert Mangum notched 12 points off the bench behind 4-for-6 shooting from the field and 2-for-4 from beyond the arc, a team-high nine rebounds, and three assists. Junior Zyon Grant added 12 points off the bench as well on 4-for-7 shooting from the floor and 3-for-5 from three-point range. Senior Troy Smoot tallied ten points behind 3-for-7 shooting from the field and 2-for-6 from the three-point line and five assists.
 
Both teams came out of the gates firing away as they traded threes to open the game with an even six points apiece. The Lions started to pull ahead with back-to-back baskets from junior Sean Miller and Brown to take a 10-6 lead at the 15:36-mark. Hood then pulled ahead 17-10 after 11 unanswered points. Senior Isaiah Harris sparked a 12-5 run for the Lions that was capped off with three-pointer from Mangum to tie the game up at 22. A bucket from Brown and a three-pointer from senior Deion Booker then gave Albright a five-point lead at the 6:52-mark. The Blazers earned a layup in transition to get within three, but the Lions used a 7-1 run to take their largest lead at nine with 3:39 left in the first. The Blazers closed out the half on a 9-4 run to cut their deficit to 38-34 entering the break.
 
The Blazers were heating up in the second half, opening it with a big 20-2 run over the course of 4:06 to take a 54-40 lead. Smoot snapped the run with a three and Harris added a bucket to cut the Lions deficit to nine at the 14:40-mark. The two teams traded baskets and went on an even 8-8 run, but a three-pointer from first-year Eric Chamberlain got the Lions within six and brought the score to 62-56 with 11:10 remaining. The Blazers kept their foot on the gas however, scoring six unanswered points to bring their lead back up to 12. Four-straight points for the Lions brought their deficit back down to single digits, but a 12-6 run for the Blazers gave them their largest lead at 15 points, 81-66, with just over two minutes remaining. Mangum put forth resilient effort in the closing minutes of action, scoring the Lions final six points, but it would not be enough to overcome Hood who claimed the 85-72 win.
 
Albright shot 25-for-58 (43.1%) from the floor, 12-for-35 (34.3%) from beyond the arc, and 10-for-19 (52.6%) from the charity stripe. The Lions earned 14 points in transition and saw 34 points off their bench. Meanwhile, Hood shot 28-for-68 (41.2%) from the field, 14-for-36 from three-point range, and 15-for-22 (68.2%) from the free-throw line. The Blazers converted 25 points off turnovers and 24 points in transition. Hood held a slight 38-36 rebound advantage.
 
The Lions will return to the court on Wednesday as they travel to Widener at 8 p.m. to continue MAC Commonwealth play.