January 17, 2004
BOX SCORE
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Longwood University lost a hard-fought 61-53 men’s college basketball decision at the University of the District of Columbia Saturday afternoon in Washington, D.C.. The Lancers had rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to within 53-51 with 2:19 left before the Firebirds made two late three-point field goals to secure their record 28th-straight home win. Longwood is now 3-14 and will not play again until Jan. 29 at Saint Paul’s.
The District of Columbia led 4-0 to begin the game before Longwood battled back to lead 11-9 on a jumper from freshman Maurice Sumter/Alexandria (T.C. Williams) at 13:44. Classmate Husein Pistoljevic/Richland, Wash. (Hanford) had put the Lancers into gear early with consecutive three-pointers to open the scoring. The visitors led 14-11 after a three-pointer from Sumter, and another basket by Pistoljevic tied the game at 20-20 (6:01). The Firebirds, however, used a 14-4 run to close the half for the 34-24 lead at the intermission. UDC scored first in the second half before Longwood closed to within 40-36 at 14:12 as freshman Michael Jefferson/Chesterfield (Meadowbrook) scored 10 of the Lancers first 12 points in the period. The hosts managed to extend the lead to 52-43 with 6:04 remaining before another rally by the Lancers narrowed the score to 53-51 (2:19) – the final four points of the run from Sumter on a four-point play. Sumter had connected on a three-pointer, and was fouled, and made the free throws before the two late treys (1:43, :49.7) made the difference.
Jefferson led the Lancers with his game-high 16 points, including 14 in the second half, adding six rebounds and three blocks. Sumter added 15 points and six rebounds, while Pistoljevic finished with 12 points, including three treys, and a game- and career-high nine rebounds. Senior Ryan Earl/Tustin, Calif. (Tustin) dished out a game- and season-high eight assists. Longwood shot just 32% (19-59) from the field, including 25% (5-20) on three-pointers, and 63% (10-16) at the free throw line.
Rasheim Wright, the second-leading scorer in NCAA Division II at 27.0 points per game, was limited to 14 points (mainly by Jefferson) to lead the Firebirds, while Dion Thompson added 12 points. District of Columbia shot 39% (22-57) from the field, including 29% (4-14) on three-pointers, and 65% (13-20) at the line. As mentioned, the Firebirds 28-game home winning streak is the longest current streak in Division II.
