Box Score OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Stevenson nearly erased an 18-point second-half deficit, which included a buzzer-beating three, falling by an 84-82 count to Hood in the Middle Athletic Conference (MAC) Commonwealth opener for both squads on Wednesday night inside Owings Mills Gymnasium.
Bo Wesley posted a double-double for Stevenson (5-2, 0-1 MAC Commonwealth) behind a career-high 23 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks, while KJ Holton added 17 points along with 15 more from Khalil Richard. Hood (4-2, 1-0 MAC Commonwealth) was led by reigning conference player of the week Mason Wang, who dropped in 26 points with six rebounds, four steals and one assist.
The Mustangs battled back with 51 points in the second half, closing the gap despite trailing 41-31 at the break.
- Bo Wesley gave Stevenson a 7-6 lead just over four minutes in before Hood reeled off a 6-0 spurt. Ronald Ayers nailed a catch-and-shoot three, trimming the Mustang deficit to two at 13-11.
- Another Hood run that netted six of the next eight points pushed the Blazers to a 19-13 lead with 11:21 remaining in the half. Another Ayers triple sliced the deficit to 21-18 before a Wesley stickback trimmed it to a one-point game.
- Hood maintained a close lead until Cameron Smith converted underneath to tie the score at 25 with 7:30 left in the half. The Blazers worked its lead back to five, eventually pushing it to nine and then 12 with a Christopher Smalls trey.
- A pair of Wesley foul shots brought the deficit back to single digits for Stevenson at 41-33 before the Blazers worked it back to double figures.
- Khalil Richard charged in off the dribble, banking an acrobatic layup, but again the Blazers had an answer with a triple on the other end. Wang worked free underneath as Hood led 51-39 at the 15:40 mark.
- Ayers stuck with it, finishing his own offensive rebound as Stevenson tried to continue chipping away. A driving layup for Bryce Butler swelled the Hood advantage to 57-42 before a triple ballooned it to 60-42, prompting a Stevenson timeout.
- KJ Holton zipped a pass between two defenders inside to Drew Miller, who finished the layup out of the timeout. Hood was able to maintain its double-digit advantage as the clock ticked below 10 minutes, expanding it to 17 on a Mason Wang steal and score.
- Smith turned in a bucket and Wesley got a block on the defensive end as Stevenson looked to gain momentum. A Richard triple brought Stevenson to within 13 before two technical foul free throws gave Hood the ball and a 71-56 lead.
- Smith weaved through defenders, finishing through contact for the transition bucket. Wesley slammed down a pass from Richard and Holton brought it back to within single digits with a triple, as Stevenson trailed 73-65.
- Consecutive hoops for Mason Wang pushed the Hood lead back to 12, but a deep three from Holton brought Stevenson to within 77-68. Wesley battled through contact off the entry pass from Holton, later finishing the three-point play to make it 77-71 at the 1:20 mark.
- Richard buried a straightaway three, slicing the deficit to just three as the Mustangs continued charging back. Off the ensuing inbound, Mason Wang broke free and drew a foul, canning one to extend the lead to 78-74.
- Smalls hauled in the offensive board on the second missed foul shot, making both for an 80-74 edge. Holton stole the Hood inbounds pass and made both foul shots before Hood was able to melt the clock away at the foul line.
- Holton beat the buzzer with a three as Hood held on for the 84-82 victory.
- Despite Stevenson's best efforts to battle back, Hood maintained the lead for over 34 minutes in the contest.
- Smith added 12 points and seven boards for the Mustangs in 29 minutes.
- Hood attempted 13 more foul shots than the Mustangs, due in large part to the end of the game situations that put the Blazers at the line.
- Holton handed out a game-high five assists for the Mustangs, adding three steals in a complete effort.
- Stevenson had its five-game winning streak snapped with the loss on Wednesday.
- The Mustangs held a narrow edge in rebounds, 40-38, one of the Mustangs' hallmarks entering the contest.
- Wesley's previous career-high scoring output was 17, set last March. He also tied his career-high in rebounding with 12 boards.
- Stevenson: The Mustangs host Alvernia on Saturday, December 4 at 3:00 PM.
- Hood: The Blazers welcome Widener on Saturday, December 4 at 3:00 PM.
