Elizabethtown College’s men’s basketball team came out on top in their game against Goucher College in Thompson Gym Saturday, Jan. 21.
Senior Josh Eden was the leading scorer and responsible for keeping the Blue Jays in the game early on in the first half. Eden was responsible for all 15 of Etown’s points scored in the first 6:41.
Despite Eden’s strong performance, the Blue Jays trailed the Gophers for most of the first half. It was not until senior Matt Lapowicz and first-year Bryce Green scored back to back threes that Etown was able to catch up to Goucher. Green’s three pointer tied the game 23-23 with 4:54 left in the first half.
Goucher managed to regain the lead 30-26 in the last few minutes of the half. A last minute three from senior Peter Harding brought the Blue Jays within one point of the Gophers going into the second half.
Etown came out strong in the second half, quickly taking the lead. Lapowicz scored the first eight points of the half, putting the Blue Jays up seven points on the Gophers. Goucher refused to give up and quickly tied the game 40-40.
With seven minutes left in the game, Harding had the ball in the corner with only 10 seconds left on the shot clock. Just outside the arc, he found sophomore Matt Thomas who, knowing the shot clock was about to expire, hit a three for the Blue Jays, putting the team up by two.
A layup by Eden put the Blue Jays up by four, but with three minutes left to play, it was again a one-possession game, the Blue Jays barely hanging on to the lead. Thanks to a steal in the last minute, first-year Ethan DuBois managed to sink an easy layup, putting Etown up four points. Two fouls sent Harding to the line twice in the last thirty seconds of the game. Harding went four-for-four in his foul shots, guaranteeing Etown a much needed victory over the Gophers, 70-62.
Etown’s senior players stood out in this win with Eden finishing 9-for-11 with 23 points. Lapowicz and Harding finished with 14 points each and five three-pointers between the two of them.
This was the Blue Jay’s first Landmark Conference win, making them 1-5 in the conference and 4-12 overall.
First-year Connor Moffatt admits, “the season isn’t going well as [the team] hoped,” but this game “was a good team win.”
Despite a rough start to the season, Moffatt believes the team’s win against Goucher was important, and “the fact that the team is very close” helped them come out on top.
The Blue Jays hosted Juniata College last night in Landmark action. Etown came out flat in the first half, falling behind by 18 at the break.
In the second half, Etown fought back behind Eden’s 16 points but could not climb over the hump, ultimately falling to the Eagles, 72-65.
The Blue Jays will be back in action on Saturday when they travel to the University of Scranton.
