Gophers Finish in Provident Pride Basement

Gophers Finish in Provident Pride Basement

Hakim Tallies 22 Points, Lands on All-Tournament Team

November 30, 2008

STEVENSON, Md. – Despite a career-high 22-points by Amir Hakim (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore City College), Goucher bowed to Stevenson, 62-58, this afternoon in the Provident Pride of Maryland Championship. With the loss, the Gophers finished in eighth place for the second year in a row and the third time in the tournament's four-year existence.

A baseline jumper by Ryan Comstock (Frederick, Md./Middletown) with 2:15 left to play put the Gophers (0-4) ahead by a point, 56-55. The Mustangs (1-5) not only regained the lead :20 later on a lay-up by Chaise Lancaster, but they also scored the next five points, taking a 62-56 lead on a free throw by Sean Ussery with only :08 remaining.

A lay-up by Darrin Boswell II (Nottingham, Md./Joppatowne) with :02 showing on the clock provided Goucher with its final two points of the contest.

A run of nine unanswered points that featured a three-point play by Marcus Cotton (Silver Spring, Md./Springbrook) and was capped by a pair of free throws by Hakim allowed the Gophers to erase a seven-point deficit midway through the first half. At the break, the two teams were deadlocked at 27-27.

The Gophers and Mustangs were never separated by more than six points at any point in the second half.

Hakim, Goucher's lone representative on the all-tournament team, was Goucher's only double-digit scorer this afternoon. Pat Bailey (Rockville, Md./Magruder) and Shane Yambor (Burtonsville, Md./Paint Branch) both delivered eight points off the bench.

Lancaster captured scoring honors for the Mustangs as he finished with 17 points. Kerry Dugan achieved a double-double of 14 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.