Gophers Can't Dig Out of Early Hole at Juniata

HUNTINGDON, Pa. - Host Juniata College scored the game's first 17 points and never looked back as it registered a 77-55 Landmark Conference victory over Goucher College Sunday afternoon at Memorial Gymnasium.

• Juniata (8-5, 4-2 Landmark) held Goucher (4-9, 2-4) scoreless for nearly the first seven minutes of the game as it opened up a 17-0 lead.
• Jacob Morgan had the first Gopher points of the game with two free throws at the 13:03 mark.
• Brandon Joseph had Goucher's first field goal with 10:44 remaining in the first.
• The Eagles built their biggest lead of the first half, 41-14, with 1:24 left before halftime.
• Juniata led 43-17 going into the locker room.

• Juniata scored the first four points of the second half before a Morgan triple at the 17:50 mark made it 45-20.
• That three sparked an 8-0 run that saw a Morgan layup and a Darrell Green three make it 45-25 with 16:38 on the clock.
• The Eagles scored the next eight points to go up 53-25 with just over 14 minutes to go.
• The hosts led 74-44 with just under four minutes to go before Goucher closed the game on an 11-3 run capped by a three by Thomas Lewis.

• Morgan paced Goucher with 12 points, five assists and four rebounds.  He finished 7-8 at the free throw line.
• Joseph finished with 10 points off the bench, going 3-6 from the floor, while registering four rebounds.
• Liech Kong recorded eight points and seven boards, while Can Dalli knocked down a pair of threes and added six points.
• The Gophers, who outrebounded Juniata 39-28, shot 34.9% overall, were 6-20 behind the arc and 19-25 at the free throw line.
• Juniata shot 50% for the contest, was 5-18 from long range and 16-25 at the charity stripe.
• The Eagles forced 28 Goucher turnovers, resulting in 38 Juniata points off giveaways.

• Goucher remains on the road Wednesday night, traveling to Elizabethtown for a 7 pm Landmark Conference matchup.
• The Gophers' next home game is Friday, January 12, as they host conference newcomer Lycoming in a 2 pm tilt at the Decker Sports and Recreation Center.