Loss to Mariners Ends Gophers' Playoff Hopes

Yambor, Giacubeno Combine for 22 Points in 85-57 Setback

TOWSON, Md. — Goucher, which prevailed by one point over the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy on Jan. 15 thanks to a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Marcus Cotton (Silver Spring, Md./Springbrook), needed to defeat the Mariners again tonight in order to remain in the chase for the Landmark Conference playoffs.

Unfortunately for the Gophers, unlike last month's encounter, the rematch didn't come down to the final possession. Instead the Mariners went on a 23-3 run over a span of more than eight minutes in the first half to wipe out an early 5-0 deficit and went on to down head coach Leonard Trevino's squad, 85-57.

Cotton helped produced Goucher's first seven points of tonight's contest. He picked up an assist on the layup by Trae Lindsay (Baltimore, Md./Patapsco) that put the Gophers up 2-0 after 37 seconds and his defensive rebound started a possession that ended with a 3-point basket by Shane Yambor (Burtonsville, Md./Paint Branch).

After the Mariners (14-9, 8-4 Landmark) got on the scoreboard for the first time on a short-range jumper by Matt Hueber, Lindsay fed Cotton for a layup that staked Goucher to a 7-2 advantage.

The Gophers, however, were able to add only one point to their total until Colby Giacubeno (Baltimore, Md./Perry Hall) drained a shot from 3-point range midway through the first half, but by that point the Mariners had opened up a 23-11 lead.

Merchant Marine was 19-for-35 from the field (.543) and committed only one turnover in the opening 20 minutes. The Mariners were ahead 49-27 at the break and never allowed their lead to dip below 19 points during the second half.

Reed Buck came off the bench to supply the Mariners with a game-high 20 points.

The only two double-digit scorers for the Gophers (5-14, 3-9 Landmark) were Yambor with 12 points and Giacubeno with 10. Cotton finished with eight points and a team-leading seven rebounds.