Lichti Heats Up Late, Gophers Edge Cabrini in Season Opener

TOWSON, Md. - Junior Josh Lichti (Harrisonburg, Va. / Harrisonburg) made Goucher College's last five field goals of the game, including the go-ahead basket with 28.5 seconds remaining, and totaled 14 points as the Gophers edged Cabrini University 51-48 in non-conference men's basketball Monday evening at the Decker Sports and Recreation Center.  The game marked the season opener for both schools.

• Goucher (1-0) built an early 10-4 lead following a basket by Cam Isaacs (Randallstown, Md./Randallstown) five minutes into the contest.
• Cabrini (0-1) reeled off eight straight points to take a 13-10 lead with 10:18 on the clock.
• The Gophers scored the next three points and a layup by Justin Salisbury (Churchton, Md. / Southern) at the 8:10 mark tied things 13-13.
• A three by Will Towne (Alexandria, Va. / Deerfield Academy) 6:55 before intermission put the hosts back in front, 16-15.
• The Cavaliers built a 23-16 cushion with just under three minutes left.
• Goucher scored the final four points of the half and a Lichti three-ball with 40 seconds left made it a three-point game at the break, 23-20.

• After Cabrini opened the second half with a basket, the Gophers scored the next five points and tied the game on a Ryan Conde (Ewing, N.J. / Solebury School) layup with 17:42 left.
• The Gophers took a 32-30 lead with just under 14 minutes left on a three by Sean Powell (Middle River, Md. / Loch Raven)
• Goucher extended its lead to five, 37-32, on two Towne free throws with just over 10 minutes to go.
• The Cavaliers responded with an 8-0 run to go up 40-37 with just under eight minutes left.
• The guests maintained the lead and were up 46-42 with just over three minutes in the game.
• Lichti cut the lead in half at the 2:50 mark, then after an empty trip by Cabrini, Lichti tied the game with 2:16 on the clock.
• With 1:13 to go, a Lichti putback of his own miss gave the Gophers the lead, 48-46.
• Cabrini's Donoven Mack responded with a layup to the the game for the seventh and final time at 48.
• On the other end, Lichti drove left and hit an eight-footer with 28.5 seconds left to put the Gophers back in front.
• Cabrini turned it over on its next possession and Isaacs was fouled, making 1-of-2 at the line.
• The guests had one final look but Christian Lane's game-tying three attempt was off the mark.

• The game saw seven ties and nine lead changes and neither side leading by more than seven.
• Lichti finished 6-of-9 from the floor and finished with a team-high 14 points to go along with seven rebounds and a pair of blocks.
• Towne was the other Gopher in double figures as he drained three three-pointers and scored 11 points in his Goucher debut.
• Isaacs added nine points, going 4-6 at the free throw line.
• Octavius Johnson (Houston, Texas / Pasadena Memorial) had a team-high eight rebounds.
• Goucher shot 44% in the second half and 31.5% for the game while the Cavaliers shot 30.4% for the contest.
• The Gophers were just 11-21 at the free throw line, with Cabrini going 11-18.
• The hosts held a 46-39 rebound advantage, including an 11-7 offensive rebound lead.
• Goucher won its season opener for the second time in the last three seasons.

MBB | @Goucher_MBB Josh Lichti made the Gophers' final five field goals, including this go-ahead jumper with 28.5 seconds remaining, to lift Goucher to a season-opening 51-48 win!#d3hoops #GopherGreatness pic.twitter.com/VWd0UoSEFe

— Goucher Gophers (@GoucherSports) November 9, 2021

• Goucher is back in action on Friday when it faces Keystone in the first round of the Stevenson Tip-Off in Owings Mills.  That game is set for a 4 pm start.
• The Gophers return home Tuesday, November 25 when they host 20th-ranked Roanoke in a 7 pm contest at the Decker Sports and Recreation Center.