Cardinals Cut Comeback by Gophers Short

Cardinals Cut Comeback by Gophers Short

Feb. 23, 2008

TOWSON, Md. - When Goucher defeated Catholic, 62-57, back in December, Jason Banzhaf of the Cardinals was limited to four points and six rebounds while playing a total of 25 minutes.

Tonight the freshman forward was on the court for all but three minutes of the game and erupted for 32 points and 18 rebounds as he powered the Cardinals to a 76-68 Landmark Conference triumph over the Gophers.

It was the final game of the 2007-08 campaign for both schools.  The Gophers, who were after a second win over their arch-rivals in the same season for the first time since 1999-2000, finished with an overall record of 6-19 and in a three-way tie for sixth place (4-10) in the Landmark Conference.

Banzhaf had already achieved a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds by the end of the first half as the Cardinals (10-15, 4-10 Landmark) led 40-30 at the break.

A lay-up by D.J. Johnston with 14:05 remaining provided Catholic with its largest advantage of the contest, 56-40.

The Gophers were able to wipe out nearly all of that deficit, however. A 24-9 run that featured three-point baskets by Darrin Boswell (Philadelphia, PA/Joppatowne) and Conor Martin (Falmouth, ME/Falmouth), and a conventional three-point play by Ian Brown (Durban, South Africa/Glenwood Boys) had Goucher trailing by just a point (65-64) with 2:57 left to play.

The Cardinals responded to that run with six unanswered points of their own, building their lead back up to seven points on a basket by Chris McGrew with :57 showing on the clock.

Goucher had four double-digit scorers: Nick DeSouza (Washington, DC/Archbishop Spalding) led the way with 14 points, Brown supplied the Gophers with 13 points, Boswell produced 12 points and Marcus Cotton (Silver Spring, MD/Springbrook) recorded a double-double of 10 points and a team-high 10 rebounds.