Crusaders Polish Off Gophers, Remain Tied for First

Crusaders Polish Off Gophers, Remain Tied for First

Musenga Reaches Double Figures with Two Late Free Throws

February 7, 2009

TOWSON, Md. – Four of Goucher's first five possessions in tonight's Landmark Conference game against Susquehanna ended with the Gophers committing a turnover. By comparison, four of the Crusaders' first seven trips down the court with the ball resulted in baskets by Joel Patch.

Patch, who started out hitting five of his first six shots from the field and had already accumulated 10 points before the game was even five minutes old, turned in a 23-point, nine-rebound performance in leading the Crusaders past the Gophers, 76-50.

The Gophers (5-14, 3-7 Landmark) trailed 18-6 before scoring on three straight possessions to close to within 18-12 on a lay-up by Marcus Cotton (Silver Spring, Md./Springbrook) with 12:06 remaining in the first half. But Susquehanna's lead was back to 12 points when the Crusaders (14-6, 8-2 Landmark) answered with three-point baskets by Bryan Majors and Patch on back-to-back possessions.

Patch had 19 points by halftime and Susquehanna was comfortably ahead at the break, 49-23.

The worst loss Goucher has ever suffered in the Sports & Recreation Center was a 34-point setback to York during the 2005-06 season. The Crusaders threatened that mark when they opened up a 70-33 advantage with 6:46 left to play before the Gophers went on a 15-2 run to knock their deficit down to 24 points with 2:00 remaining.

Patch was the player for Susquehanna to score more than 10 points in the victory, which keeps the Crusaders tied with Merchant Marine for first place in the Landmark Conference. Goucher didn't have any double-figure scorers until Steve Musenga (Germantown, Md./Good Counsel) converted a pair of free throws with :22 remaining for his ninth and 10th points of the contest.