Box Score
TOWSON, Md. — Gordon Men's Basketball struggled to find their mark in the second half, as the host Goucher Gophers overcame a 10-point deficit at halftime to beat the Scots 80-67 in the opener of the Goucher Classic. The Gophers shot nearly 50-percent from the floor in the second half, out-scoring the Scots by 23 in the period, to drop a team projected to win the Commonwealth Coast Conference.
But Julian Livingston (Bowie, Md./Fairmont Heights) nearly matched the starters' offensive production in the opening period all by himself in the second half as he tallied 14 points and Jesse Mondry (Medford, Ore./South Medford), who was held scoreless in the opening period, knocked down 10 points following intermission as head coach Leonard Trevino's squad rallied to claim an 80-67 victory over the team favored to win the Commonwealth Coast Conference title in 2013-14.
The Gophers were just 9-for-36 from the field (.250) in the first half as they headed for the locker room after 20 minutes down 39-29. Jason Dempsey (Wallingford, Conn.) was only three rebounds shy of a double-double at that point as he supplied the Fighting Scots (0-1) with 10 points and seven rebounds during his 12 minutes on the court. Goucher outshot the Scots by 13 attempts, thanks in part to 14 second-chance opportunities and winning the turnover battle.
Gordon turned the ball over 21 times, while the Gophers limited their mistakes to only five, breaking a school record for least turnovers in a game. Goucher also out-rebounded the Scots despite having a disadvantage in size.
Goucher wasn't able to make up much ground on Gordon during the first seven minutes of the second period until a pair of free throws by Mondry ignited a run of 13 consecutive points that ended with another free throw by freshmen forward, which provided the Gophers (1-0) with a 55-51 lead. Alex Carnes sank a free throw that snapped the streak and allowed the Fighting Scots to close to within 55-52, but then the home team responded by scoring nine straight points, opening up a 64-52 advantage on two free throws by Manney Wood (Washington, D.C./C. H. Flowers) with just over six minutes left to play.
Dempsey wound up with a double-double to lead the Fighting Scots, as he finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Gordon's leading scorer on the evening was defending CCC Defensive Player of the Year Hans Miersma (Whitinsville, Mass.), who was 7-for-8 from the field, scoring 14 points and completing with double-double with 10 boards. He also pitched in two of the Scots' three blocks. Taylor Bajema (Whitinsville, Mass.) also chipped in 10 points for the Scots.
Release courtesy of Goucher Sports Information
