ARLINGTON, Va. – The Marymount (Va.) University men's basketball team came up just short on Tuesday night in its home opener, dropping a 66-64 decision to Hood College following two late free throws by the Blazers with four seconds remaining in the game. 

It was a close battle the entire way to the end with 12 lead changes and six ties, but the most excitement was in the closing three minutes of the game. The Blazers had a late five-point advantage, 62-57, following two free throws by Davon Still, but the Saints didn't go away. 

Senior Danny Ferry spotted up on the left wing, who was already good for three long balls at that point in the game, was fed the ball from junior Michael Anderson. With a quick hand, Ferry got the shot off on a flying defense to drop in his fourth three-pointer for the game to draw the Saints within two. 

Following a missed three-point attempt on the other side and a defensive board by Anderson, the Saints pushed the ball the other way. With the ball at the top of the paint, senior Rick Narcisse dished off a perfect pass to the baseline to sophomore Dmitri Rucker who finished at the rim on the reverse layup to knot the score up at 62-62 with just 2:28 remaining. 

Putting together a solid defensive series on the other end including a crowd-rocking block by Rucker, the Blazers would manage to find the basket to reclaim the lead with 56 seconds remaining. Again in a deficit, MU didn't get shaken, as Narcisse and Rucker hooked up again on the offensive end for another layup to tie it back up at 64-64 with 35 seconds. 

In the closing seconds following a defensive rebound by Hood, Blazers' Scott Bolen pushed the tempo toward their basket. Driving down the lane, Bolen drew the foul and hit both free throws to give Hood the 66-64 advantage which ended up being enough to hold off the Saints. 

Rucker finished with a team-high 17 points while adding a career-high seven blocks. Ferry added 14 points, while sophomore D'Ondre Stockman notched 12 points off four three-pointers. Narcisse pulled in a game-high 10 rebounds to go along with his five points and two steals. 

The men are back in action on Saturday, November 21 as they host the Pablo Coto Tip-Off Tournament. The Saints will open with Medgar Evers College at 3:30 p.m., in the Verizon Sports Arena.