Gophers Make Final Push Past Wilkes for Second Straight League Win

TOWSON, Md. - Junior Alex Miller's jumper with 12.6 seconds left capped off a game-ending 10-2 Goucher College run as the Gophers rallied to top previously 10-1 Wilkes University 62-61 Wednesday evening in Landmark Conference men's basketball at the Decker Sports and Recreation Center.

• Goucher (4-8, 2-3 Landmark) scored the game's first five points before Wilkes (10-2, 3-2) reeled off nine straight to take a 9-5 lead with just under 14 minutes left in the opening frame.
• The Gophers reclaimed the lead, 11-10, on an Onterio Miller three at the 10:09 mark.
• The lead changed hands twice before a 6-0 Gopher spurt capped by a steal and layup by Jacob Morgan made it 17-12 with 8:22 on the clock.
• Goucher maintained the lead until the Colonels tied the game 27-27 with 20 seconds left in the opening quarter.
• Goucher took a 29-27 lead into halftime as Alex Miller put back an offensive rebound, just beating the buzzer.

• The hosts opened the second half on a 7-0 run capped by a Darnell Morris Jr. layup at the 18:08 mark, forcing Wilkes to call timeout down 36-27.
• The Colonels turned a 41-34 deficit into a 44-41 lead with a 10-0 run capped by a Trent Fisher three at 12:57.
• Wilkes went up 48-43, but a 9-2 Goucher run capped by a Darrell Green basket with 7:31 left put the hosts back in front, 52-50.
• Holding Goucher scoreless for over four minutes, Wilkes capped a 9-0 run with a Fisher basket to go up 59-52 with 4:49 on the clock.
• A steal and layup by Morgan with 3:28 left snapped the Goucher drought, and he was fouled, sinking the free throw to make it 59-55.
• After a Green basket to cut it to two, Fisher responded, making it 61-57 with 2:36 remaining.
• After trading empty trips, Can Dalli knocked down a second chance three for Goucher with 1:41 on the clock to cut the lead to one, 61-60.
• Wilkes turned the ball over with 24 seconds to go on an inbound.
• Morgan dribbled under the basket and found Alex Miller at the left elbow.  Miller knocked down a contested 15-footer with 12.6 seconds left to put Goucher up one.
• After using its final timeout, Wilkes turned the ball over with 4.8 seconds left, and had two fouls to give, thus were unable to send Goucher to the free throw line to get the ball back.

• Alex Miller finished with a career-high 14 points, going 7-8 from the floor.  He also grabbed seven rebounds and had a pair of blocked shots.
• Morgan tallied 12 points and four assists, while Green and Dalli added 10 points apiece.
• Green was 4-6 from the floor and recorded six rebounds, while Dalli knocked down a pair of threes.
• Goucher, which was outrebounded 42-32, shot 44.1% overall, was 6-22 behind the arc and 4-6 at the free throw line.
• The Gophers held Wilkes 12 points below their average of 73.2 points per game entering the game by holding the guests to 37.1% shooting, including 4-19 from long range.  The Colonels were 11-14 at the charity stripe.
• Goucher won back-to-back Landmark Conference games for the first time since downing Drew and Juniata back-to-back on January 25-27, 2016.

• Goucher is slated to return to action on Saturday, January 6 when it travels to Juniata for a 2 pm contest.
• The Gophers are back home on Friday, January 12, entertaining Landmark newcomer Lycoming in a 2 pm league matchup at the Decker Sports and Recreation Center.