Gophers Silence Eagles, Perry Provides Dagger

Gophers Silence Eagles, Perry Provides Dagger

Game-Winning Basket at :02 Caps Sophomore's 14-Point Effort

January 24, 2009

HUNTINGDON, Pa. – Goucher outscored Juniata, 17-0, over a span of 11:46 of the second half tonight, but still needed a basket by sophomore guard Micah Perry (Silver Spring, Md./Springbrook) with :02 showing on the clock to gain a 55-53 victory over Juniata and move into a three-way tie for fifth place in the Landmark Conference.

The Gophers (4-11, 2-4 Landmark Conference) were 9-for-30 (.300) from the field in the first half and trailed 32-21 after 20:00. Their deficit grew to 13 points when the Eagles tallied the first two points of the second half on a lay-up by Matt Regan.

But after Regan's lay-up put Juniata ahead 34-21 with 18:22 left to play, the Eagles (3-14, 1-5) proceeded to miss their next 14 shots and commit a dozen turnovers before Jeff Berkey ended his team's drought by converting a lay-up with 6:35 remaining.

Steve Musenga (Germantown, Md./Good Counsel) and Nick DeSouza (Washington, D.C./Archbishop Spalding) combined to score nine points during the 17-0 run by the Gophers, who took a 36-34 lead on a lay-up by Reginald Suggs (Baltimore, Md./Walbrook) with 9:57 left to play.

Perry scored nine of his team-high 14 points down the stretch, hitting all four of the field goals he attempted over the final 3:58. The first three, including one from three-point range, all provided the Gophers with seven-point leads. But the Eagles answered back, nailing two three-pointers of their own during an 8-1 spurt that produced a 53-53 tie with :30 remaining.

The Gophers opted to hold for the final shot, which Perry took from near the top of the key, inside the three-point stripe.

Perry was one of three Goucher players to score in double figures: Darrin Boswell (Nottingham, Md./Joppatowne) and Amir Hakim (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore City College) both supplied 10 points to the victory.

Juniata's leading scorer was Dave Thompson with 15 points.