Men’s Basketball drops thriller in NCAA Tournament first round

FREDERICK, Md. – Despite Garrison Linton’s (New Market, Md./Oakdale) double-double, Blazers are outmatched in the second half and drop matchup against Penn St. Harrisburg 72-67 in the NCAA First Round. 

Inside the Box Score 

• Garrison Linton (New Market, Md./Oakdale) scored six points but earned a double-double via 16 rebounds and 15 assists. 
• Trumaine Strickland (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) scored 14 points off the bench and shot 4-for-8 from three-point-range. 
• Justin Gielen (Edgewater, Md./DeMatha) added 13 points, going 4-for-7 from the field. 

How it Happened 

Garrison Linton (New Market, Md./Oakdale) broke the ice for the Blazers with a turnaround jumper to start the scoring. However, the Nittany Lion star Donyae Baylor-Carroll responded later with a three pointer.  

Penn St. Harrisburg would build a nine-point lead with a score of 18-9. 

Hood’s use of their sole free throw attempts of the game and points in the paint helped keep pace with Penn St. Harrisburg. A Trumaine Strickland (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) three-pointer cut the deficit to 41-31 at the half.  

To open up the second half the Blazers went to work and went on a 24-6 run that was capped off by a deep three-pointer by Troy Fulton (Denver, N.C./Lincoln Charter School) to create the Blazers’ largest lead of the night of eight, 55-47. 

Later as the Blazers trailed, Garrett Cox (Glen Allen, VA/Glen Allen) received a wide-open look from Linton and drained a three-pointer to take the lead 65-64. On the other end Cox would end up with a block on driving Baylor-Carroll and the rebound to give the Blazers possession with 50.9 seconds left. 

The ensuing possession for Penn St. Harrisburg turned into a Baylor-Carroll made pull up jumper for the lead to be right back in the hands of the Nittany Lions.  

A turnover by Hood would force them to start intentionally fouling and the Blazers stared down a 70-67 deficit. 

An inbound for the Nittany Lions led to two more made free throws by Nate Curry, his 83.3 percent from the line on the night shut the door on the Blazers’ season. 

For the Opponent 

Analysis 

• The fast-paced transition offense of Penn St. Harrisburg create a 23-7 edge on fastbreak points 

• The Nittany Lions outscored the Blazers in 21-13 in points off turnovers, something…