THOMASVILLE, Ga. – Thomas University junior Dexter Hood scored 29 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead the Night Hawks to an 81-75 victory over Johnson & Wales University Saturday at the TU Gymnasium. 

Hood was 9-of-16 from the field, including 3-of-3 from long range, and hit 8-of-11 at the line.

Thomas (4-1, 2-0) outrebounded JWU 44-35 and TU's bench scored 44 points, the third consecutive game with reserves scoring at least 37 points. 

Junior Joshua Scott added 20 points while redshirt freshman Marcus Louis pulled down seven rebounds and junior Sheldon Hendrix dished out four assists. 

JWU jumped out to a four-point lead, then Sean Kostyk hit a three and Hood threw down a dunk to give Thomas the 5-4 edge. With seven minutes left in the first, JWU led, 21-12, but Thomas took off on a 22-7 run to take the 34-28 halftime lead.

The teams traded baskets to start the second half, and TU led by 10 at the 15:46. A pair of threes from JWU got the Wildcats back in the game, then drew the margin within two with nine minutes left. JWU took the two-point lead at 6:00 and traded leads for the next two minutes. Scott hit a jumper, then Hood and Scott each hit a pair of three throws to take the six-point lead with 1:46 left. In the final 18  seconds, JWU hit a 3-pointer and a jumper, but Thomas was 5-of-5 at the line to earn the win. 

Thomas next faces Faulkner University in non-conference action on Nov. 20 at 6 p.m. at the TU Gymnasium.