WASHINGTON - The postgame celebration was extra special for the Gallaudet University men's basketball team here Tuesday evening in the Field House. The Bison defeated Goucher College, 66-62, in a non-conference game on Padden Court.

The victory was the first for Gallaudet this season and the first for new Head Coach Sekoe White, '10, who is making his collegiate debut this season as a head coach.

"No matter the situation, keep your faith strong," said White after the game. "Basketball proves that hard work creates amazing moments, like tonight. I am so proud of this team."

Gallaudet (1-8 overall, 1-7 vs. NCAA teams) turned in its best performance to date this season as the Bison shot a season-high 44.1 percent from the field (26-for-59). A trio of Bison led the way as sophomore guard Alex Ortman (Norway, Mich.) scored a game-high 21 points off the bench to go with five rebounds. Fellow sophomore guard Jory Valencia (Riverside, Calif.) passed out a career best nine assists and four steals and finished with 15 points and three boards. First-year forward Jayden Orsi-Pedersen (Frederick, Md.) made his second collegiate start and finished with a career best 14 points and tallied five rebounds, three steals and one block. Sophomore guard Brandon Washington (Citronelle, Ala.) made a team- and game-high 10 rebounds to go with six points, six assists and two steals. 

Goucher (2-6) had two players in double figures as junior forward Liech Kong recorded 15 points and 10 rebounds while junior guard Darnell Morris chipped in 12 points, four assists and three boards. The Gophers turned the ball over 19 times which led to 19 points for the Bison.

Gallaudet last defeated Goucher, ironically on the same date (December 9), back in 2016 at home as the Bison won, 83-72. Since then the Gophers won the previous three meetings in 2020, 2021 and 2022. 

The Bison shot 50 percent from the field in the first half as they made 15 of 30 shots and took a four-point lead into intermission up, 38-34. The two teams were even in the second half as both squads tallied 28 points each. 

Gallaudet held a 13-point advantage, 48-35, at the 11:31 mark as the Bison went on a 10-1 run to begin the second half. The Gophers dug back into the game and used its own 16-0 run in a five-minute stretch to erase Gallaudet's double-digit margin and take a three-point lead, 51-48, with 6:03 left in regulation. 

Ortman drained a key 3-pointer and Orsi-Pedersen made a layup at 3:53 to get GU back in front up, 58-57. The teams continued to go back-and-forth until Valencia made a jumper in the paint with 19 seconds left to gain the lead for good for Gallaudet. As the waning seconds ticked off the clock and the gym lights flashed to celebrate the victory, Bison players jumped around in excitement, traded hugs and high-fives while the GU coaching staff quickly hugged before it exchanged handshakes with the Gophers in a display of good sportsmanship.

The win is the first but not the last for Coach White and the Bison.

BISON TRACKS

• GU scored 40 points in the paint and finished with 15 fast break points 
• Gallaudet's last win came on Feb. 13, 2025, at Penn St.-Abington, 77-65
• The victory snap a nine-game losing streak dating back to Feb. 15, 2025
• GU's last win at home was Jan. 16, 2025, vs. Penn St.-Abington, 95-74

UP NEXT
Gallaudet will get through final exam these next few days before the Bison host Wasington (Md.) College (8-0) this Saturday, Dec. 13, at 1 p.m. on Padden Court in the Field House. There is free admission for this game.