Gophers Remain Stuck on One Victory

Gophers Remain Stuck on One Victory

Nov. 24, 2007

BALTIMORE, Md. - Goucher has yet to trail at the end of regulation in any of the three games it has played so far this season, but still the Gophers have only one victory to show for their efforts after losing to Villa Julie, 89-81, in overtime today in the consolation semifinals of the third annual Provident Pride of Maryland Tournament.

It was a 71-69 loss in overtime to Salisbury earlier in the week that bumped the Gophers into the tournament's consolation bracket and now they will need to defeat Washington (Md.) on Sunday in order to avoid finishing in eighth place. The Shoremen lost to Johns Hopkins, 69-52, in today's other consolation semifinal. 

The Gophers kept Villa Julie (1-2) off the scoreboard for more than four minutes at the start of the game and took a 9-0 lead on a lay-up by Amir Hakim (Baltimore, MD/Baltimore City College). But the Mustangs caught Goucher midway through the first half when a pair of free throws by Greg Collins created a 16-16 tie and they went ahead for the first time on a lay-up by Mike Turner that made the score 19-18 with 7:41 remaining before halftime.

Villa Julie led by a point at the break, 36-35.

The Mustangs stretched their advantage to as many as six points in the second half, but after Goucher's Michael Schaerr (Derwood, MD/Magruder) nailed a shot from three-point range to pull the Gophers (1-2) into a 52-52 tie with 12:05 left to play, the two teams were never separated by more than three points the rest of the way through the end of regulation.

A lay-up by Hakim with :24 showing on the clock put the Gophers ahead 73-70, but Villa Julie responded with a three-point basket by Greg Woody to force overtime.

The Gophers missed their first six shots from the field during the five-minute extra session and fell behind 79-73. The Mustangs maintained the lead by going 10-for-12 at the free-throw line over the final 1:26.

Hakim and Darrin Boswell II (Philadelphia, PA/Joppatowne) were the only double-digit scorers for the Gophers. Hakim finished with 16 points by going 8-for-10 from the field and Boswell knocked down 14 points. The two players also combined to hand out six assists, grab five rebounds, block five shots and make three steals.

Four of Villa Julie's five starters scored in double figures: Turner supplied the Mustangs with 19 points, Chaise Lancaster contributed 14 points to the win, and Woody and Elysian Richardson added 11 and 10 points, respectively.