Gophers Make Second Half Push Against Moravian

TOWSON, Md. - Sophomore John Dixon (Towson, Md./Loyola Blakefield) scored a career-high 18 points and the Goucher men's basketball team cut a lead that had been as large as 18 down to two in the final minute, but visiting Moravian University escaped with a 66-61 Landmark Conference men's basketball victory Wednesday evening at the Decker Sports and Recreation Center.

• Goucher (2-13, 0-5 Landmark) trailed 12-8 just over seven minutes in following a basket by Josh Lichti (Harrisonburg, Va./Harrisonburg).
• Moravian (6-10, 3-2) used an 11-1 run to build a 23-9 lead at the 9:05 mark.
• The Gophers cut the lead to 10 twice, the second on a Peter Capan (Parkton, Md./Hereford) free throw with just under six minutes left.
• The Greyhounds took their largest lead of the first half, 33-18, with 1:55 on the clock.
• A late steal and layup by Lichti cut the lead to 11, 33-22, at intermission.

• Moravian took its largest lead, 46-28, with 15:51 left.
• Goucher used a 12-0 run capped by a Dixon three pointer that beat the shot clock with 12:50 remaining to whittle the lead to six, 46-40.
• Six straight points by the Greyhounds doubled their lead with 9:25 left.
• The Gophers chipped away and a step back jumper by Jacob Morgan (Bowie, Md./Bowie) with 5:38 to go made it a 56-51 game, capping an 11-4 run by the hosts.
• Moravian reclaimed a double-digit lead, 61-51, with just under three minutes to go.
• Goucher clawed back in at the free throw line, going 10-12 in the next two-plus minutes and taking advantage of three Greyhound turnovers, cutting the lead to two, 63-61, with 53 seconds left on two David Nwankwo (Upper Marlboro, Md./Takoma Academy) free throws.
• The Greyhounds snapped a 10-2 run with a basket with 29 seconds to play that made it 65-61.
• After Goucher came up empty on its next trip, Moravian missed two free throws but the Gophers had another empty possession in the final seconds.

• Dixon finished 6-13 from the floor and lmocked down both of his three-point attempts.  He also grabbed seven rebounds.
• Lichti recorded a season-best 16 points on 7-13 shooting and recorded nine rebounds and four steals.
• Morgan added 13 points and notched a career-best seven steals and seven rebounds.
• Nwankwo matched his career high with 11 points and grabbed six rebounds.
• Goucher shot 30.8% overall, was 2-12 behind the arc and 19-27 at the free throw line while getting outrebounded 51-44.
• The Greyhounds shot 42% overall and were 8-21 from long range, but just 6-22 at the free throw line.
• The Gophers forced 23 Moravian turnovers and had a season-high 15 steals.

.@Goucher_MBB Play of the Game

John Dixon beats the shot clock and cuts Moravian's lead to six midway through the second half.#d3hoops #GopherGreatness #GoucherProud pic.twitter.com/EaNtlUMBlm

— Goucher Gophers (@GoucherSports) January 19, 2023

• Goucher travels to Elizabethtown on Saturday for a 4 pm Landmark Conference contest.
• The Gophers return home next Saturday, January 28, when they host Scranton in a 4 pm game at the Decker Sports and Recreation Center.