Gophers Suffer Four-Point Loss to Mariners

Gophers Suffer Four-Point Loss to Mariners

Jan. 11, 2008

TOWSON, Md. - Overtime has hardly been kind to Goucher this season, but that's what the Gophers were hoping for after baskets by Amir Hakim (Baltimore, MD/Baltimore City College) and Darrin Boswell II (Philadelphia, PA/Joppatowne) allowed the Gophers to knock a seven-point deficit with :46 remaining down to 65-62 with :23 still left to play tonight.

But a three-point attempt with :09 showing on the clock that would have created a 65-65 tie and probably forced a five-minute extra session wouldn't go down, allowing the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy to secure a 66-62 victory over the Gophers in the first Landmark Conference men's game in the Sports & Recreation Center.

The Gophers (3-9, 1-1 Landmark) have already gone into overtime four times this season - and have lost all four of those games. Tonight's loss was also their fourth in 2007-08 by four points or less.

Tonight's game was knotted up, 30-30, at the half as neither team was able to open up more than a six-point lead in the opening 20 minutes of play.

The Gophers outscored Merchant Marine, 10-2, over the first 4:10 of the second half, taking a 40-32 advantage on a lay-up by Pat Bailey (Rockville, MD/Magruder). They were able to hang onto the lead until a three-point basket by Matt Oaks put the Mariners (4-7, 1-1 Landmark) ahead, 49-47, with 8:24 left to play.

Two factors that greatly contributed to the loss for Goucher were rebounding and free-throw shooting. The Mariners finished with a commanding 47-28 edge in rebounds and the Gophers were 8-of-18 (.444) at the charity stripe.

Boswell was the leading scorer for Goucher as he nailed four shots from three-point range during a 14-point performance. Two other starters - Ian Brown (Durban, South Africa/Glenwood Boys) and Bailey - tallied 12 and 10 points, respectively, while Hakim delivered 12 points, along with six rebounds and a pair of blocked shots, off the bench.

Rich Roach captured scoring honors for Merchant Marine as he produced 16 points.