Late Push Moves Gophers Past Clarks Summit

OWINGS MILLS, Md. - The Goucher College men's basketball team placed three players in double figures as it held off Clarks Summit University for a 66-63 win in the second round of the Stevenson Tip-Off Saturday afternoon at Owings Mills Gymnasium.

• The lead changed hands five times in the opening five minutes, with Goucher (2-1) taking a 10-9 lead on a basket by Ryan Conde (Ewing, N.J. / Solebury School) at the 15:26 mark.
• The Gophers took a six-point lead, 22-16, on a Justin Salisbury (Churchton, Md. / Southern) three with 8:21 left before halftime.
• Clarks Summit (1-4) scored the next five points to pull within one, 22-21.
• The Defenders took a 27-25 lead on two free throws 4:32 before the break.
• Goucher scored the next five points to go up 30-27 on a Cam Isaacs (Randallstown, Md. / Randallstown) three with 3:33 left.
• Clarks Summit responded with six straight to take the lead and went into the locker room up 35-32.

• Goucher outscored Clarks Summit 11-6 over the first 6:38 of the second half to take a 43-41 lead on a basket by Isaacs.
• The Defenders responded with a 6-1 spurt to go back in front 47-44 with 9:31 on the clock.
• CSU extended its lead to six, 55-49, with just over seven minutes left.
• The Gophers reclaimed the lead, 58-57, with 4:04 left on a basket by Octavius Johnson (Houston, Texas / Pasadena Memorial).
• A larger 11-0 run was capped by a basket by Tevin Venson (Waldorf, Md. / Thomas Stone) with 3:07 remaining that put Goucher in front by six, 63-57.
• The Defenders cut the lead to two twice, the last time with 39 seconds left, but got no closer.

• Isaacs paced the Gophers with 17 points, going 6-6 from the free throw line.  He alos added four rebounds, three steals and three assists.
• Johnson finished 5-9 from the floor and totaled 13 points, six rebounds and three assists.
• John Dixon (Towson, Md. / Loyola Blakefield) added 11 points off the bench for Goucher.
• The Gophers prevailed despite getting outrebounded by 10 (45-35) and taking 10 fewer trips to the free throw line, as CSU was 22-33 and Goucher 15-23.
• Goucher shot 39.7% overall and 5-19 behind the arc, while the Defenders shot 35% overall and 3-14 from long range.
• The Gophers start the season 2-1 for the first time since the 2015-16 campaign.

MBB | @GoucherMBB took the lead for good late as Tevin Venson finds Octavius Johnson underneath for the easy two!#d3hoops #GopherGreatness pic.twitter.com/71rtC7p3nr

— Goucher Gophers (@GoucherSports) November 13, 2021

• Goucher returns to Stevenson for a third straight game next Saturday as it takes on Salisbury in the return of the Pride of Maryland hosted by the Mustangs.  Tipoff is set for 1 pm.
• The Gophers return home Tuesday, November 23 when they host 20th-ranked Roanoke in a 7 pm game at the Decker Sports and Recreation Center.