TOWSON, Md. — The Goucher offense which was unable to surpass 70 points in any of its first six contests was nowhere to be found in tonight's Landmark Conference opener.
Alex Noble (Clinton, Md./Surrattsville) poured in a game-high 31 points, while Chris Outing (New Windsor, N.Y./James I. O'Neill) added 19 points and 15 rebounds to lift the Gophers to a 102-92 victory over Moravian. This is the third-straight year that Goucher has started conference play with a win, while the 102 points were the most scored in regulation for the program since a 110-67 triumph over Gallaudet during the 2000-01 season.
"Our offense looks a whole lot better when we convert on our layups and our free throw opportunities," head coach Leonard Trevino said. "We still need to learn how to close out games on the defensive end, but this was certainly a step in the right direction."
The Gophers hit 17 of 20 attempts from the free throw line, and their 55.9 shooting percentage from the field was their highest total of the season thus far.
A hot start from 3-point range for the Greyhounds, though, forced Goucher to play from behind early on. Moravian nailed four shots from long distance in the opening five and a half minutes to jump out to an 18-9 advantage.
The Gophers (1-6, 1-0 Landmark) responded with an extended 28-9 run, capped by a 3-pointer from Noble with 6:11 remaining, to take a 37-27 lead.
The game then swung back in favor of the Greyhounds, who looked set to take a four-point lead into the intermission after Izel Dickerson sank a layup to make it 47-43 with five seconds to go. Noble, however, drilled a half-court heave at the buzzer to reduce the deficit back down to one. That was one of five 3-pointers on the night for the senior co-captain, who shot 12 of 19 from the floor overall.
The two teams traded baskets early on in the second half. Moravian used a mini spurt to take its largest lead of the half at 63-58 with 13:43 left after a 3-pointer from Khalil Rhett.
Goucher battled back, and a layup from Outing allowed the Gophers to retake a 69-68 advantage. That layup began a 23-9 run for Goucher. By the time that outburst was over, it was 90-77 with under four minutes to play, and there was not enough time for another Greyhound rally.
Kevin Miles (District Heights, Md./Gwynn Park) chipped in 18 points for the Gophers, sinking nine of his 10 attempts from the charity stripe. Tre Galloway III (Silver Spring, Md./Paint Branch) was the final player to reach double figures with 11 points after he made all five of his shots from the field. Galloway also dished out a team-high five assists.
The double-double for Outing was his second of the season, and he has now scored 10 or more points in five of Goucher's seven games. The sophomore forward shot 8 of 10 from the floor and added a pair of blocks on the defensive end.
Jarrod Dilts had 30 points, aided by a game-high eight made 3-pointers, to lead Moravian (1-6, 0-1 Landmark), while Brandon McGuire had 24 points and 11 rebounds.
The Gophers remain at home for their next game, a 7 p.m. matchup against Drew this Saturday. Both teams will be looking to move to 2-0 in conference play after the Rangers (4-2) handed Merchant Marine an 88-71 setback earlier tonight.