FREDERICK, Md. (Jan. 14, 2017) – Senior captain John Fender (Wallingford, Pa.) set a career high for the second straight game by tallying 24 points, but it wasn't enough, as the Widener University men's basketball team suffered a 75-63 setback against Hood on Saturday afternoon at BB&T Arena.

The game was competitive at the beginning with neither side leading by more than one possession until Hood's Michael Robinson hit a 3-pointer to make it 17-12 at the 12:05 mark. After Fender answered with a trifecta on the other end, the Blazers rattled off 12 unanswered to gain the momentum. Scott Bolen, who drilled a 3-pointer to cap the run, made another shot from long range with under a minute left to give the hosts a 38-31 lead at the recess.
 
Hood (12-4, MAC Commonwealth 4-3) stayed in control throughout the second half. Fender brought the margin down to seven by converting a layup in the opening minute, but the Pride would not come any closer the rest of the way. Kobe Butler ballooned the Blazer lead up to 23 by making a bucket with 8:35 remaining, and Bolen scored the final four points of the game to produce the outcome.
 
Bolen netted a game-high 25 points and most notably drained six shots from beyond the arc for Hood, which outscored Widener's bench by a count of 33-3 and had a 37-27 advantage on the glass. Daniel Wegener contributed seven points and seven rebounds in a reserve role, while Trevor Magnuski and Tanner Ruths finished with four assists and three steals apiece.
 
Fender's 24-point outburst for Widener came shortly after he set a career high with 21 in Wednesday's victory over Alvernia. He also grabbed seven rebounds and recorded two steals. Smith notched 17 points, and sophomore Ryan McMahon (Mount Laurel, N.J.) finished with nine points to go along with four assists and four boards.
 
Widener (7-8, MAC Commonwealth 2-5) begins a two-game homestand when it next hosts Arcadia on Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 8 p.m.