Gophers Come Up Short Despite Spirited Rally

Royals Prevail 61-54, Take 6-0 Lead in All-Time Series

TOWSON, Md. — Goucher's gallant comeback couldn't quite make up for its wretched start in tonight's Landmark Conference game against Scranton in the Decker Sports & Recreation Center.

The Gophers, who were dealing with a double-digit deficit before the game was even seven minutes old, eventually fell behind by as many as 17 points before they made a spirited run to close to within four points in the final minute of play. Even though the Royals didn't score from the field in the final 6:36, they made enough free throws down the stretch to record a 61-54 victory.

A layup by Reggie Suggs (Baltimore, Md./Walbrook) that tied the score at 2-2 produced the only points the Gophers (6-14, 4-6 Landmark) were able to muster in the opening 7:35 of the contest. They shook off a 1-for-11 effort at the outset to raise their shooting percentage to .259 by halftime, yet still departed the court at the break trailing the Royals, 29-19.

Scranton assumed its biggest lead of the game when Zach Ashworth nailed a shot from three-point range with 6:37 remaining, putting the Royals (13-8, 7-3 Landmark) ahead 53-36. But the Gophers responded with a 7-0 run that featured four free throws by Steve Musenga (Germantown, Md./Good Counsel) to close to within 53-43 with 4:26 showing on the clock.

Scranton's lead dipped into single digits for good when Kyle Gladden (Baltimore, Md./Lansdowne) converted a layp with 2:35 left to play, making the score 55-47. The closest the Gophers were able to get was 58-54 on a layup by Pat Bailey (Rockville, Md./Magruder) with :32 remaining.

The Royals made 24 of the 35 free throws (.686) they were awarded in the game, including 10-of-14 over the final 7:23.

Ashworth finished with game-high totals of 27 points and eight rebounds. Shane Yambor (Burtonsville, Md./Paint Branch) supplied the Gophers with 14 points and seven rebounds.