Gophers Sink Seahawks in Season Opener

ST. MARY'S CITY, Md. - Junior Jacob Morgan led four Goucher College players in double figures with 22 points as the Gophers downed St. Mary's (Md.) 87-78 in the men's basketball opener for both schools Friday night at the O'Brien Athletics & Recreation Center.

• The lead changed hands five times in the first seven minutes, with a Jaden Workman basket seven minutes in putting Goucher (1-0) up 15-14.
• St. Mary's (0-1) used a 14-1 run to build a 28-16 lead on a three pointer 9:11 before halftime.
• The Gophers countered with a 15-3 run and a conventional three-point play by Workman with just under four minutes to go tied the game 31-31.
• A basket by Liech Kong with 2:40 to go put the Gophers in front 33-32.
• Goucher took a 37-36 lead into intermission after an Alex Miller basket with 43 seconds on the clock.

• The Gophers opened the second half on a 10-5 run capped by a steal and layup by Morgan to extend the lead to 47-41 at the 16:13 mark.
• St. Mary's cut the lead to one, 48-47, before a Workman basket with 13:21 to go.
• The Seahawks eked out a 55-54 lead, but on Goucher's next possession Miller scored to put Goucher back in front.
• The lead changed hands four times before a Darnell Morris Jr. basket with 7:23 remaining put the Gophers in front for good, 62-61.
• A steal and layup by Morgan with four minutes to go extended the guests' lead to 74-67.
• St. Mary's cut the lead to three, 81-78, on a three with 1:12 on the clock, but Workman scored on Goucher's next possession as the Gophers scored the game's final six points.

• Morgan paced Goucher with 22 points on 7-15 shooting, including 2-3 behind the arc, while contributing five rebounds and a pair of steals.
• Kong finished 8-14 from the floor, including two threes, while grabbing eight rebounds.
• Workman finished one point shy of his career high with 19 points, going 7-11 from the floor and grabbing six rebounds.
• Miller chipped in with 10 points and six rebounds, while Morris added eight.
• Goucher shot 54.5% in the second half and 52.6% (30-57) for the game, including 7-14 behind the arc, while holding the Seahawks to 45.8% (27-59) shooting for the contest.
• The Gophers held a 36-33 rebound advantage.
• Goucher won its season opener for the first time since 2021-22.
• Goucher and St. Mary's met for the first time since the 2006-07 season, when both were members of the Capital Athletic Conference.

• Goucher plays its home opener Tuesday night, welcoming Neumann to the Decker Sports and Recreation Center for a 7 pm contest.