Time Runs Out on Gophers' Peculiar Comeback
TOWSON, Md. – Goucher trailed Roanoke by 10 points with 5:55 left to play this afternoon. The rest of the way the Gophers shot only 1-for-7 from the field –and yet still had a chance at the end to force overtime.
Time Runs Out on Gophers' Peculiar Comeback
Maroons Register 64-61 Victory, Assume 10-1 Series Lead
December 14, 2008
TOWSON, Md. – Goucher trailed Roanoke by 10 points with 5:55 left to play this afternoon. The rest of the way the Gophers shot only 1-for-7 from the field –and yet still had a chance at the end to force overtime.
The only field goal for the Gophers down the stretch was a lay-up with :13 remaining by Miguel Negron (Bel Air, Md./Bel Air) on which the senior guard was also fouled. When Negron added the free throw to complete a three-point play, the Maroons' lead had suddenly been reduced to 62-61.
After a pair of free throws by Curtis Peery with :09 showing on the clock restored Roanoke's advantage to three points, the Gophers desperately needed a three-pointer. Even though he was draped by two defenders, Darrin Boswell II (Nottingham, Md./Joppatowne) got a three-point attempt off before the final horn. The shot, however, would only carom off the rim, allowing the Maroons to breath a sigh of relief and begin celebrating their 64-61 non-conference victory.
Prior to his miss right before the buzzer, Boswell had gone 4-for-7 from three-point territory. He finished with 19 points, bumping his team-high average to 14.0 points per contest this season.
Peery was the leading scorer and rebounder for the Maroons (8-1) as he tallied 24 points to go along with 11 boards.
While outscoring Roanoke, 11-4, over the final 5:55, Goucher (1-6) was 9-of-10 at the free-throw stripe. During that same span, the Maroons missed all six of their shots from the floor and five free-throw attempts, plus they committed four turnovers.
The Gophers led by as many as six points during the opening eight minutes of the contest, but the Maroons went ahead to stay on a three-pointer by Drew Gaeng that made the score 18-17 with 8:44 remaining in the first half.
The Gophers, who have only one win in the 11-game series between the two schools, had a second double-digit scorer in Pat Bailey (Rockville, Md./Magruder), who produced 10 points. Amir Hakim (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore City College) matched his career-high of 13 rebounds which he established only five days earlier in a 58-54 triumph over Maryland Bible.