Gophers Beat Out Mustangs for Seventh Place

Yambor, Bailey Combine to Score 35 Points in 68-57 Win

TOWSON, Md. — Shane Yambor (Burtonsville, Md./Paint Branch) turned in the first 20-point performance of his collegiate career and Pat Bailey (Rockville, Md./Magruder) added 15 points as Goucher defeated Stevenson, 68-57, today to finish in seventh place in the 2009 Pride of Maryland Championship presented by M&T Bank.

The Gophers (1-2) never trailed after Yambor knocked down a shot from beyond the three-point stripe just :18 into the contest. Bailey made a pair of three-pointers in the opening half: the first one provided Goucher with a 26-14 advantage with 6:21 remaining before halftime and the second one came three possessions later and made the score 29-14.

The two teams departed the court at halftime with the Gophers enjoying a 36-25 lead.

Bailey connected two more times from three-point range in the second half, both times after the Mustangs (0-4) had trimmed their deficit to nine points. For the game, the senior guard was 4-for-7 on three-point attempts.

A lay-up by Lovell Kosh (Chester, Pa./Christiana) with 5:21 left to play provided Goucher with a 60-46 lead, but it also turned out to be the Gophers' final made field goal. The rest of the way, they were 0-for-5 from the field, but 8-of-12 at the free-throw line.

In addition to contributing seven points to the victory, Joel Smith (Nottingham, England/Cardinal Gibbons) was credited with a career-high 11 rebounds. The Gophers out-rebounded the Mustangs, 52-47.

Greg Collins was the leading scorer (17 points) and rebounder (12) for Stevenson.

Yambor was Goucher's lone representative on the all-tournament team.

This was the 11th all-time meeting between the two metropolitan rivals and by winning, the Gophers increased their lead in the series to 8-3.