Bakari Ward had a game-high 31 points with five steals and Mike Doyle added 19 points and seven steals to lead Goucher to a season-opening, 91-71 victory over Villa Julie last night in the first round of the S.W. Sponaugle Classic at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa.

Ward and Doyle combined to convert 18 of 27 field goals as the Gophers broke from a four-point lead at halftime by shooting 59 percent in the second half.

Darrian Lee (15 points), Todd Sykes (13) and Vince Williams (11) also scored in double figures for Goucher, which will play the Franklin and Marshall -- a 70-51 winner over York -- for the title today at 8 p.m.

Johns Hopkins 76, Ithaca 70, OT: Joel Wertman led all scorers with a career-high 29 points, on 13-for-20 shooting as the host Blue Jays opened their season with a win over the Bombers in the Blue Jay Classic.

Hopkins will play Rose-Hulman in the championship game today at 8 p.m.

College of New Jersey 87, Washington College 75: The host Lions had five players in double figures, led by Ron Wilson's 23 points, in a win over the Shoremen in the first round of the Tip-Off Tournament.

Western Maryland 89, Daniel Webster 83: Junior forward Brian ++ Billman led all scorers with 33 points to lead the host Green Terror to victory in the first round of the Western Maryland College Tip-Off Tournament.

Western Maryland will face 13th-ranked Randolph Macon in today's title game at 4 p.m.

Bridgewater 80, Frostburg State 67: Kyle Williford had 22 points and a game-high 17 rebounds as the Eagles earned a season-opening win in the Frostburg Classic. Rob Ayers led the Bobcats with 20 points.

Pub Date: 11/21/98