Noble, Galloway Go for 35 Points in 68-62 Setback

TOWSON, Md. — Alex Noble (Clinton, Md./Surrattsville) knocked down three shots from 3-point range during a 15-5 run by Goucher in the second half that turned a nine-point deficit into a 51-50 lead over Ferrum with 6:24 left to play.

Before the Gophers got another shot off, however, the Panthers had not only gone back in front, but managed to extend its advantage to 57-51 thanks to a basket in the paint by Rashawn Speas, a pair of free throws by Alek Ayer and a conventional three-point play by Jamal Pullen.

Another 3-pointer by Noble — the senior guard's fifth of the contest — stopped Ferrum's mini-run and made it a 57-54 contest with still nearly five minutes left to play. Goucher later closed to within 62-60 on a layup by Tre Galloway III (Silver Spring, Md./Paint Branch) and then to 63-62 when Noble canned two free throws with exactly one minute remaining.

The Gophers needed one more stop in order to get the ball back with it still being a one-possession game, but Tyler Mann delivered the dagger in the form of a 3-point basket that just barely beat the 35-second shot clock. That put the Panthers up 66-62 with :26 showing on the clock and they went on to defeat head coach Leonard Trevino's squad, 68-62, tonight in the Decker Sports & Recreation Center.

The biggest lead for either team in the first half was the 16-11 advantage Kevin Miles (District Heights, Md./Gwynn Park) gave the Gophers (0-4) when he landed a jumper eight minutes into the contest. The Panthers (3-1) went ahead for the first time on a free throw by Pullen hat completed a three-point play with 5:30 remaining before halftime.

Goucher led at the break, 32-29.

A 36-36 tie just over three minutes into the second half created by a made free throw by Galloway was the sixth deadlock between the two non-conference opponents, but it was followed by a run of nine consecutive points by Ferrum, which put the visitors in front 45-36.

Noble, who went 6-for-9 from the field and made five of his seven 3-point attempts, supplied the Gophers with 19 points. The only other double-digit scorer for the home team was Galloway, who finished with 16 points.

Pullen wound up with game-high totals of 21 points and 12 rebounds for his second double-double of the 2014-15 campaign. The senior forward is averaging 19.3 points and 9.0 rebounds per game.

Next up for the Gophers is their second game this season against a Division I opponent. They bowed to Howard, 101-54, back on November 16, and will get a crack at Towson this coming Wednesday. The game will be played in SECU Arena, beginning at 7 p.m.