Goucher Ends Florida Swing with Loss to Seahawks

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Despite a career-high 20 points from Norman Allen II (Bowie, Md./Riverdale Baptist), Goucher concluded its three-game Florida road trip with a 95-64 loss at NAIA Division II powerhouse Northwood.

The Seahawks (10-3), who reached the NAIA Final Four in both 2011 and 2012, scored the first seven points of the game and never trailed. Goucher (5-6) slips back under .500 for the season.

Goucher kept the game competitive for much of the first half, with a pair of free throws from Kevin Miles (District Heights, Md./Gwynn Park) reducing the deficit to 27-23 with 6:41 to go. Northwood, though, ended the half on a 17-8 run to extend its lead to 48-31 at the break. The Gophers were unable to contain the Seahawks on the inside, with Northwood hitting 16 of its 22 shots inside the 3-point line in the opening 20 minutes.

Zachary Hall (Catonsville, Md./Catonsville) hit the second of his two 3-pointers to open up the second, reducing the deficit to 14 points, but Goucher could not get any closer.

Allen made six of his 12 shots from the field, including four 3-pointers. His previous career-high was a 14-point effort against Patrick Henry on Nov. 16, 2012. Julian Livingston (Bowie, Md./Fairmont Heights) added 15 points for the Gophers, including 11 in the second half. He averaged 21.3 points over Goucher's three games in Florida.

The Gophers continued to generate more free throws than their opposition, earning 29 shots at the line compared to 11 for the Seahawks. Goucher made only 16 of those shots, however, while Northwood did not miss a free throw. Chris Solomon led the Seahawks with 23 points, while Josh Doughty dished out 14 assists. Northwood had commanding advantages in both rebounds (47-29) and assists (29-12).

Goucher remains on the road for its next matchup, a 7 p.m. tilt at Eastern Mennonite (5-4) on Monday.