Second Half Struggles Cost Gophers in Loss to Saints

ARLINGTON, Va. — A 14-3 run for Marymount to start the second half broke open what had been a tight game and sent Goucher to an 81-67 defeat in its first contest after the Thanksgiving break.

The Gophers (2-3) would eventually concede 49 points after the intermission to the Saints (5-1). Junior Alex Noble (Clinton, Md./Surrattsville) led Goucher with 15 points and 11 rebounds, registering his first double-double since Jan. 2, 2012. Tre Galloway III (Silver Spring, Md./Paint Branch) had a team-high 16 points off the bench, aided by a 10 of 11 performance from the free throw line.

Marymount led for much of the first half, and its advantage was 26-18 with 4:00 remaining. The Gophers, though, would then go on a 12-2 run, capped off by a 3-pointer from Kevin Miles (District Heights, Md./Gwynn Park) which gave them their first lead of the game with 1:16 left in the half.

The Saints scored the final four points of the half, and they took control with their strong start in the second. The Marymount advantage was 46-33 with 16:36 to go. A layup from Julian Livingston (Bowie, Md./Fairmont Heights) ended a 7-0 run which cut the deficit back to six points, and the Gophers got within five at 48-43 after a pair of free throws from Galloway, but they were never able to get any closer.

Livingston finished with 11 points, continuing his streak of scoring in double figures in every game to start the season. Noble's 11 boards were a career-high, and he also had a team-high three assists. His last double-double came in a 40-point, 10-rebound performance during his freshman season.

Both teams struggled with turnovers, as each had 20 giveaways in the game. Marymount, however, hit 55.2 percent of its shots from the field compared to 37.0 percent for Goucher.

The Gophers continued their season-long trend of getting to the free throw line, hitting 24 of their 36 attempts from the charity stripe. They have generated more free throw attempts then their opponent in each of the season's first five games (Marymount was 15 of 25 from the line).

Goucher looks to get back on track this Saturday, when they host the U.S. Merchant Marine in a 5 p.m. matchup to begin Landmark Conference play. That game will also serve as a fundraiser for former men's basketball player Damon Brooks, who was paralyzed in an accident in April, 2012. All ticket proceeds will go towards Brooks, and additional donations from fans attending the game would be greatly appreciated.