Palmer's three-pointer lifts SU in overtime over Goucher
SALISBURY, Md. – Entering the 2007-08 season the Sea Gulls had to find away to replace two of the top scorers in Salisbury University men's basketball history. Coach Steve Holmes knew senior guard Gary Ward would be one of the top scorers for the maroon and gold this season but he had to find another weapon to add to his arsenal.

Meet Greg Palmer.

Last season, Palmer was buried on the SU bench. The lanky freshman saw limited time, 21 minutes to be exact in eight games, and only recorded three points on a three-pointer.

The local product from Salisbury, Md., hung around the Maggs Center all summer and worked out in the gym day-in and day-out. His countless hours of shooting and lifting weights are now paying dividends for the sophomore and the Sea Gulls.

On Tuesday night, it was Palmer who had a breakout game in the home debut for the maroon and gold before a crowd of 224 at the Maggs Center. Palmer led all-scorers with a game-high 24 points as he carried the Sea Gulls into overtime and drained the game-winning three as the Sea Gulls defeated Goucher College, 71-69, in overtime.

This was a first round game of the Pride of Maryland Tournament presented by Provident Bank. Salisbury (2-1) advances to Saturday's semifinals where SU will meet up with McDaniel College for a 6 p.m. game on the campus of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md. McDaniel defeated Villa Julie College, 84-61, on Tuesday night after the two teams went into the half tied at 30. The winner between Salisbury and McDaniel will meet the winner of the other semifinal game between St. Mary's (Md.) College and Hood College in the championship game on Sunday at 6:30 p.m.

Goucher (1-1) held its largest lead of five-points, 63-58, with less than three minutes remaining in regulation. The Sea Gull defense would keep the Gophers from scoring the rest of the way as Palmer went to work.

The sophomore made a layup in the paint and drew the Gopher foul at the 2:38 mark. He nailed the free throw to convert the hard earned three-point play and cut the lead to 63-60. Palmer tied the game a minute later with another layup in the paint.

Goucher's Ian Brown went to the foul line with the chance to win the game with 1:19 left but missed both foul shots. SU threw up three shots and Goucher one as time expired and sent the game into overtime.

The Gophers scored the first four points in the extra period before SU answered with back-to-back buckets from Sean Whittaker (five points, six rebounds) and Jonas Vaitkus (six points, eight rebounds). With a minute left Goucher's Amir Hakim scored two of his final 12 points in the game on a layup in the paint to give the Gophers the slim 69-67 lead.

Goucher would send SU junior guard Brandon Abney (eight points) to the foul line with 39 seconds where he made 1-of-2 shots. Abney missed his second shot but managed to grab his own rebound and control the possession for the Sea Gulls. Ward (12 points, six rebounds) missed twice on layups before a timeout was called.

The stage was set for a dramatic shot as the Sea Gulls brought the ball back into play. Forward Todd Ostrom (five points) found Palmer in the right corner on the baseline as he drained a three-pointer in front of the SU bench. The shot brought the crowd to life with 12 seconds left in the game. Goucher got off a final three-point attempt in the waning seconds but to no avail as the Sea Gulls survived.

Through three games Palmer is the leading scorer for the Sea Gulls with a 17.7 points per game average. He has scored 50 more points this season than his career total (three points) coming into the 2007-08 season. There was no need to check last season's stats after the game to confirm the 24 points was a new career high for Palmer.

Salisbury led 38-29 at the half as the Sea Gulls’ biggest lead came 32 seconds into the second half when the maroon and gold led by 12 points. SU outrebounded Goucher 44-40 as the Sea Gulls shot 47 percent from the field (28-for-60).

Goucher was led offensively by guard Darrin Boswell who poured in a team-high 22 points for the Gophers. Goucher shot 43 percent from the field (31-for-73). There were four lead changes in the game.

Also see:
• Pride of Maryland Tournament Web Site