TOWSON, Md. – Sophomore Tim Harwood scored a career-high 26 points as the Salisbury University men's basketball team defeated Goucher College, 69-59, at the Decker Sports & Recreation Center on Wednesday.
Harwood knocked down a career-best six three-pointers, adding six assists, four rebounds and a steal. Senior Elijah Gore tallied 15 points and eight boards while sophomore Chris Viqueira chipped in with 11 points, three rebounds and two assists to help Salisbury (7-1) to its fourth consecutive victory.
After Chris Viqueira hit a three-pointer to put the Sea Gulls up, 16-8, with 13:19 remaining in the first half, the Gophers rallied to take the lead, scoring nine straight points. Ed Oliver made a jump shot with 8:50 for Goucher's only lead of the night.
Viqueira responded with a jumper of his own at the at the 7:56 mark, giving SU the lead back for good. Craig Ryan followed with a three-pointer and Viqueira added another bucket to open a 23-17 lead with less than six minutes before the break.
Harwood drilled another three – one of 10 for SU in the first 20 minutes – with 25 seconds to go for a 35-23 advantage at halftime.
Harwood gave Salisbury its largest lead of the game, 49-29, on yet another three, with an assist from sophomore Conor Strickland, before Goucher (2-6) made a run.
Norman Allen II capped an 8-0 spurt with a jumper in the paint to bring the host within 12 at 49-37 with 10:44 to play. Allen II converted a layup with 5:11 remaining to cut the SU lead to 56-48, prior to Brian Morton II hitting a jumper with 1:40 left to make it a two-possession game, 60-54. But Salisbury knocked down all six of its free throws down the stretch to ensure the win.
The Sea Gulls shot almost 48 percent (23-for-48) for the game, including 55 percent in the second half. SU finished 15-of-31 (48.4 percent) from beyond the arc.
Goucher, which outrebounded the Gulls by one, received 17 points from Morton II and 15 from Trae Lindsay.
Salisbury opens Capital Athletic Conference play, hosting Frostburg State University, Saturday at 3 p.m.