Ospreys Prevail in Inaugural Meeting with Gophers

Non-Conference Game Features 12 Ties, 15 Lead Changes

TOWSON, Md. — Goucher and Richard Stockton, meeting for the first time in the sport of men's basketball, pulled off a double-double of sorts tonight in the Decker Sports & Recreation Center: 12 ties and 15 lead changes.

The lead changed hands for the last time on a layup by Darnell McCargo that provided the visiting Ospreys with a 72-70 advantage with 4:30 left to play. Trae Lindsay (Baltimore, Md./Patapsco) accounted for the 12th and final tie of the non-conference contest when he rebounded his own missed shot and stuck the follow, pulling the Gophers even at 76-76 with 1:50 showing on the clock.

Richard Stockton went ahead to stay when Ibn Moye converted a pair of free throws with :38 remaining. Moye closed out the scoring 19 seconds later by sinking two more free-throw attempts, sealing an 80-76 victory for the Ospreys (3-4).

Neither team led by more than seven points at any time during the first 20 minutes. With Marcus Cotton (Silver Spring, Md./Springbrook) contributing14 points by making all six of his shots, including both tries from 3-point range, the Gophers (1-7) went to the locker room up 39-36.

Goucher expanded its lead to 48-39 early in the second half before the visitors went on a 12-0 run, tying the score on a 3-pointer by DiAndre Brown and going in front on a conventional three-point play by McCargo. The Gophers ended the spurt with a 3-pointer by Alex Noble (Clinton, Md./Surrattsville) that created a 51-51 tie with 13:21 left to play.

The biggest lead either team enjoyed the rest of the way was the 76-71 cushion a dunk by Salman Yusuff gave Richard Stockton with 3:15 remaining. Eight seconds later, however, Noble buried his third 3-pointer of the second half.

Noble and Brown shared scoring honors with 22 points apiece. Noble tallied 20 of his points in the second half and the freshman guard has scored at least 20 points four times already this season. He was a perfect 9-of-9 at the free-throw stripe.

Goucher had two more double-digit scorers in Cotton, who finished with 17 points, and Lindsay, who added 11 points before fouling out with 1:21 remaining.

Pat Kelly furnished Richard Stockton with 16 points.