November 25, 2003
BOX SCORE
HICKORY, N.C. – Freshman Maurice Sumter/Alexandria (T.C. Williams) made two free throws with 15.2-seconds remaining to lift Longwood University past Lenoir-Rhyne College 63-62 in men’s college basketball Tuesday night in North Carolina. The Lancers improved their record to 2-2 with the exciting road win as senior All-America candidate Charles Stephens/Danville (GW-Danville) led the way with his game-high double-double of 25 points and 16 rebounds. The host Bears, ranked #14 in one Division II preseason poll, dropped to 2-1. Longwood will play again Friday, Nov. 28, at Pfeiffer University.
At Lenoir-Rhyne, Longwood jumped in front early en route to a 28-15 lead with 8:50 left in the first half as Stephens scored 11 quick points. The Lancers maintained the advantage and led late in the half at 41-28 on a offensive rebound and follow-up dunk from Stephens before the Bears closed to within 41-30 at halftime. Stephens finished the half with 18 points and nine rebounds.
Longwood extended it lead to 47-32 early in the second half (16:14) as Stephens scored a couple of quick baskets. The Lancers still led 52-37 with 13:28 left to play on a three-point field goal by freshman Husein Pistoljevic/Richland, Wash. (Hanford). L-RC came charging back to within 52-46 at 9:29 with nine unanswered points. The hosts closed to within 54-53 with 6:10 on the clock but a three-point play from Stephens had the visitors ahead 57-53 and just over six-minutes to go. It remained close down the stretch before Lenoir-Rhyne finally took its first lead of the game at 60-59 with 3:40 remaining. The Bears led 62-61 at the 1:50 mark on a basket following two free throws at 2:06 by freshman Leland Beale/Poquoson (Oak Ridge, N.C. Military Academy). Longwood missed on a couple of scoring opportunities down the stretch to set the stage for the final seconds and Sumter’s game-winning free throws. L-RC missed on its last-second three-point attempt.
Stephens added seven steals and four assists to his 25 points and 16 rebounds. Sumter finished with nine points and eight rebounds; Pistoljevic had eight points off the bench; and senior Nathan Fortener/Hartford, Ky. (Ohio Co.) added seven points and six rebounds. Longwood shot 41% (26-64) from the field, including 36% (5-14) on three-pointers, and 75% (6-8) at the free throw line. Lenoir-Rhyne shot 40% (25-63) from the field, including 32% (7-22) on three-pointers, and 83% (5-6) at the line. The Bears were led by Tony Connelly with 15 points, while Rashad Price and Randy Mauldin each had 12 points.
