Twinning on Twos-Day

If you attended a Blazers men’s basketball game during the 2021-22 season, there might have been a moment when you thought you were seeing double.

That’s because Evan and Mason Wang, twin brothers and Hood student-athletes, have been turning heads on the court. Not only because they look identical, but also because they’ve been racking up accolades left and right.

In January, Evan scored his 1,000th point in a win against Lebanon Valley. A week later, Mason surpassed the career scoring record of 1,643 points previously held by Cameron Cook ’14. Combined, they’ve been named the MAC Commonwealth Player of the Week nine times.

After a canceled 2020-21 season due to the pandemic, the dynamic duo has led the Blazers through one of the team’s most successful runs to date. The Blazers finished as co-champions of the MAC Conference, sharing the title with Eastern. “We’re playing with confidence. It’s a special year so far. We’re hitting our stride and all of our teammates are playing phenomenally,” says Evan.

The brothers are both business administrations majors with concentrations in marketing and are expected to graduate this year. Balancing academics with the rigorous demands of athletics can be a challenge, but the Wangs say time management and staying proactive with schoolwork is key. “Being a leader on the court translates to being a leader in the classroom,” says Mason. “We stay focused. We try to keep ahead of assignments so we’re not rushing. The less stress, the better.”

Chad Dickman, who’s serves as the men’s basketball coach, believes the Wang twins exemplify the kind of student-athletes that the Blazers look for. “Those two guys are prototypical Hood College basketball players,” says Dickman. “They’re good people, good students, good teammates. They work really hard. They’re competitive and they push each other. Not everyone has a twin who can do that!”

The Wangs can attest that being twins does have its advantages when it comes to playing sports. Mason points to his brother and says, “He always knows where I’m at on the court. I always know where he’s at.” Evan agrees that the connection he shares with Mason gives them an edge. “We’ve been playing together for so long. This is a guy I can rely on 100% of the time.” Twin telepathy, perhaps?

As Coach Dickman reflects on the twins’ tenure with the Blazers, he can’t help but feel proud at how much they’ve accomplished in four years. “It’s been awesome to see these guys evolve,” Dickman says. “It’s exciting for everyone who’s watched their progression. They’ve been instrumental to us. Right now, we’re ranked as one of the best teams in the region. They’ve played a huge part in that.”

Now that pandemic restrictions have started to lift, the Wang twins hope to see lots of fans at upcoming games. “We love a packed gym. It ultimately helps us play better,” says Mason. “As players, we feed off the crowd’s energy. Everyone should come out to our home games. You’ll help us a lot,” echoes Evan.

Coach Dickman feels the same way. “We’re one of the best offensive teams in the country. It’s an exciting style of basketball,” he says. “The more support we can get from our students and staff, the more successful we’ll be.”

Interested in cheering on the Blazers during the final stretch of the season? Visit the Hood Athletics page for more info on the upcoming playoff games.