Frederick, Md. - The Notre Dame of Maryland men's basketball team had a strong opening 20 minutes against No. 3 Hood this evening at the Rotary Club of Frederick Tip-Off Tournament, but the Blazers' pulled away from the Gators in the second half as the Blazers won 111-85.
The Gators shot 40 percent from the field in the first half and 36.4 percent from three while the defense held Hood to 29.4 percent shooting from deep in the opening half; Hood enter the break with a 46-37 advantage. The hosts shot 66.7 percent from the field and 50 percent from three after the intermission.
The Gators' defense also forced Hood into 18 turnovers while only committing 15.
Junior Tutuwan and
Jordan Strickland led the Gators in scoring with 19 points apiece.
Tutuwan shot 4-for-11 from the field, with all of his makes coming from behind the three-point line. He was also 7-for-10 from the free-throw line.
Strickland, in 18 minutes off the bench, was 7-for-12 from the field and made all four of his free throws. He also grabbed six rebounds.
Dominik McKenney-George scored ten points, making a pair of threes.
Jahbreco Dacosta had seven points and nine rebounds in only 20 minutes of action as he battled foul trouble.
LeTre Yawn had five points, five assists and four steals, leading the Gators in the latter two categories.
The Gators close the weekend tomorrow against either McDaniel or Elizabethtown in the tournament's consolation game at 1 p.m.
