Goucher bucket with 2.2 seconds remaining allows Gophers to undermine Juniata

HUNTINGDON, Pa. – Micah Perry's off-balance jumper with 2.2 seconds remaining on the clock lifted Goucher College to a 55-53 win over Juniata College, in Landmark Conference men's basketball action Saturday night at the Kennedy Sports + Recreation Center. 

Juniata's attempt to draw the foul on the ensuing inbounds pass, which would have allowed the Eagles to try and tied the game and force overtime, proved unsuccessful. With Dan Sekulski (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone Area) running the baseline, Jeff Berkey (Stoystown, Pa./Shanksville-Stonycreek) set a pick for the Goucher defender shadowing Sekulski. However none of the three officials saw the foul, and Sekulski's inbounds pass was knocked loose by Goucher's Perry. 

The Eagles tied the game at 53-53 with just 31 seconds remaining in regulation on a three-pointer by Ryan Jones (Coudersport, Pa./Coudersport) – part of his 12-point, 11-rebound effort for his first double-double at Juniata College.

That capped a frustrating second half for the Eagles, who held a 32-21 lead at the break, but scored just one basket – a layup by Matt Regan (Downingtown, Pa./Devon Prep) barely a minute-and-a-half into the half – through the first 13-and-a-half minutes of the second half. 

Goucher outscored Juniata 17-2 during that stretch, eventually holding a 38-34 lead with 7:43 showing, until a Berkey layup at the 6:35 mark ended the Eagle scoring drought. 

David Thompson (Altoona, Pa./Altoona Area) led the Eagles with 15 points, while Sekulski added another 12 points to the Juniata cause. 

Goucher (4-11, 2-4 Landmark) had three players score in double figures, led by Perry with 14 points. Darrin Boswell II and Amir Hakim each had 10 points for the Gophers. 

Juniata (3-14, 1-5 Landmark) returns to action on Sunday afternoon, when it hosts Catholic University of America at 4:00 p.m.

-30-