November 17, 2004
FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University will open its much-anticipated 2004-05 season this weekend, November 19-20, with its participation in the Columbia Classic hosted by Ivy League member Columbia University in New York City. The Lancers of second-year head coach Mike Gillian will open against the host Lions Friday, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m., following the tournament opener between Morehead State and Mount St. Mary’s. The Classic’s respective consolation and championship games will be played Saturday, Nov. 20, at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively.
“The countdown for Longwood Basketball to make its move to Division I play is about over,” said Gillian. “We are excited, prepared, and can't wait for it all to get started this weekend in the tournament we are playing at Columbia University. The field of Columbia, Morehead State, and Mount St. Mary's is a good one for us to get on the court with and evaluate the progress we have made thus far in putting together a Division I basketball program. It's the start of what promises to be quite an adventure for Longwood Basketball and everyone who has worked so hard to bring this process to its fruition.”
LONGWOOD enters the campaign with three returning sophomore starters among eight letterwinners, including Michael Jefferson/Chesterfield (Meadowbrook), Maurice Sumter/Alexandria (T.C. Williams), and Husein Pistoljevic/Richland, Wash. (Hanford). Jefferson, a 6-3 guard, is the top returning scorer after averaging 15.1 points a year ago. He added 5.3 rebounds with eight 20-point games among 22 double-figure scoring games overall. Jefferson posted season-highs of 28 points and 14 rebounds. Sumter, a 6-5 guard-forward, led Longwood with his 5.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks, adding 11.1 points. He had 15 double-figure scoring games overall, and posted season-highs of 29 points and 12 rebounds. Pistoljevic, a 6-1 guard, led the Lancers with his 65 three-point field goals, adding 10.5 points. He had 16 double-figure scoring games overall, and posted a season-high of 27 points.
Coach Gillian’s second recruiting class numbers six, featuring one junior college transfer in big 6-11, 245-pound center Chad Kosmo/Northport, Maine (Maine Central Institute), along with freshmen 6-6 forward Lamar Barrett/Providence, R.I. (St. Andrew’s) and 6-2 guard Kevin Schneider/Phoenix, Ariz. (Brophy Prep). This weekend’s starting line-up is expected to include Jefferson, Sumter, Kosmo, Barrett, and Schneider.
COLUMBIA is coached by Joe Jones, who is in his second year guiding the Lions following a 10-17 record a year ago. Columbia returns four starters among 12 letterwinners and will be led by senior 6-5 forward Matt Preston and junior 6-8 forward Dragutin Kravic. Preston scored a team-best 15.3 points a year ago, while Kravic added 12.3 points.
MOREHEAD STATE is coached by former University of Kentucky standout Kyle Macy, who is in his eighth year guiding the Eagles following a 16-13 record a year ago. Morehead returns two starters among six letterwinners and will be led by senior 6-7 forward Chad McKnight and junior 5-11 guard Quinton Smith. McKnight scored 10.6 points a year ago, while Smith added 6.4 points and 3.6 assists.
MOUNT ST. MARY’S is coached by Milan Brown, who is in his second year guiding The Mount following a 12-16 record a year ago. Mount St. Mary’s, a former member of the old Mason-Dixon Athletic Conference along with Longwood in the mid-1980’s, returns four starters among eight letterwinners and will be led by junior 6-1 guard Landy Thompson and junior 6-7 forward Kiel Butler. Thompson scored a team-best 17.7 points a year ago, while Butler added 11.1 points.
Following this weekend’s season-opening action in New York, Longwood will return home to Willett Hall in Farmville to host in-state opponent and Big South Conference member Radford University next Tuesday, Nov. 23, at 7 p.m..
