Gophers Knock Off Familiar Foe in Landmark Opener
WASHINGTON, D.C. - For the first time since launching its 2007-08 campaign against Maryland Bible back on Nov. 17, Goucher did not go into overtime tonight. More importantly, for the first time since their season-opening 78-73 triumph over the Eagles, the Gophers were able to celebrate a victory. Tonight, in the inaugural Landmark Conference game for both teams, Goucher paid a visit to the nation's capital and returned home with a 62-57 win over Catholic.
Gophers Knock Off Familiar Foe in Landmark Opener
Bailey Tallies 10 Points as Bench Contributes 32 Points to WinDec. 5, 2007
WASHINGTON, D.C. - For the first time since launching its 2007-08 campaign against Maryland Bible back on Nov. 17, Goucher did not go into overtime tonight.
More importantly, for the first time since their season-opening 78-73 triumph over the Eagles, the Gophers were able to celebrate a victory.
Tonight, in the inaugural Landmark Conference game for both teams, Goucher paid a visit to the nation's capital and returned home with a 62-57 win over Catholic.
Five points was the biggest lead either team could muster until the Cardinals (4-4, 0-1 Landmark) reeled off 11 unanswered points over a span of 3:23 to open up a 47-36 advantage with 11:45 left to play. The Gophers (2-4, 1-0 Landmark) responded with a 16-3 run to go ahead 52-50 on a lay-up by Marcus Cotton (Silver Spring, MD/Springbrook) with 7:07 remaining.
The Cardinals were able to wrest the lead away from the Gophers one more time, but after going ahead 55-52 on a lay-up by Nick Olivero with 5:16 left to play, they missed their next 11 attempts from the floor. Goucher capitalized, regaining the lead on a lay-up by Darrin Boswell II (Philadelphia, PA/Joppatowne) with 3:03 showing on the clock.
Over the final 5:15. the Gophers outscored the Cardinals, 10-2.
The win snaps Goucher's four-game losing streak during which all four games went into overtime, breaking the NCAA Division III record for consecutive OT games played by a team.
Although the Gophers haven't defeated Catholic at home in the Sports & Recreation Center since the 2002-03 season, this is their second straight victory over the Cardinals in the DuFour Center. Goucher still trails the all-time series between the two schools, 29-12.
Even in victory, the Gophers didn't have a double-figure scorer until Pat Bailey (Rockville, MD/Maguder) made two free throws in the final minute of play to finish with 10 points. The sophomore guard missed the first fives games of the season due to injury.
Among Goucher's five starters, the leading scorer was Cotton with eight point, but the bench accounted for 32 points. In addition to Bailey's 10 points, Miguel Negron (Bel Air, MD/Bel Air) and Tim Merritt (Pasadena, MD/Chesapeake) both came off the bench to score eight points.
Olivero and Wes Parker shared scoring honors for Catholic with 13 points apiece.