December 18, 2004

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University earned its first win of the season with a 75-69 triumph past visiting Howard University Saturday afternoon in Willett Hall.  Sophomore Michael Jefferson/Chesterfield (Meadowbrook) scored 19 of his team-high 21 points in the second half as the host Lancers (1-11) rallied from a 10-point deficit, while Cliffone Ault led the Bison (3-5) with a game-high 26 points.  Longwood’s first win of the year was also the 400th win in the 29-year history of the LU program.  The Lancers will play again Monday, Dec. 20, at Old Dominion University in Norfolk beginning at 7 p.m..

Longwood had led 32-31 at halftime but trailed 47-37 with 14:52 remaining after Howard opened the second half with a 16-5 run sparked by Ault’s 10 points.  The Lancers battled back with their own 14-4 run to tie the game at 51-51 with 9:41 on the clock behind eight points from Jefferson.  The two teams then traded baskets with the Bison taking their final lead at 62-60 and 4:47 on the clock with a pair of free throws from Darryl Hudson.  LU, though, fought hard down the stretch and outscored HU 15-7 over the final 3:04 as sophomore Maurice Sumter/Alexandria (T.C. Williams) scored five points before Jefferson sealed the outcome with 4-4 free throws in the final 24-seconds.
    
The closely-played contest witnessed nine ties and five lead changes throughout the 40 minutes.  Ault, coming off a 34-point effort at Iowa State last Sunday, opened the game for Howard with a three-pointer at 19:41.  Longwood freshman Kevin Schneider/Phoenix, Ariz. (Brophy Prep) answered with a three-pointer at 18:47 and the battle was on.  The Bison took their largest lead of the first half at 9-5 (17:49) before the Lancers tied the game at 9-9 (17:00) on a layup from junior Chad Kozmo/Northport, Maine (Maine Central Institute).  LU used a 17-8 run midway through the first half to take its largest lead of the period at 30-21 with 8:31 left before the intermission.  HU, however, outscored the Lancers 10-2 to close to within 32-31 at the break as the hosts only scored one basket over the final eight minutes.
    
Jefferson added seven rebounds and four assists to his 21 points, and finished 10-11 on free throws for Longwood.  Sumter had 15 points and seven rebounds, while freshman Lamar Barrett/Providence, R.I. (St. Andrew’s) contributed nine points, five rebounds, and three blocks to the Lancers’ effort.  LU shot 50% (27-54) from the field, including 26% (5-19) on three-pointers, and 80% (16-20) at the line.
    
Ault’s 26 points included 11-25 from the field, 4-10 on three-pointers, and five rebounds for Howard.  Hudson finished with 15 points and five rebounds, while 5-6 Louis Ford added 10 points, six rebounds, five assists, and five steals for the Bison.  HU shot 37% (28-75) from the field, including 25% (6-24) on three-pointers, and 70% (7-10) at the line.  Howard is coached by Frankie Allen, a Roanoke College graduate, who is the top all-time scorer and rebounder in the commonwealth’s college basketball history.  Allen totaled 2,780 points and 1,758 rebounds during his collegiate playing career at Roanoke (1967-71).
    
Ironically, Longwood’s first-ever win over a Division I team was vs. Howard, 95-77, during 1980-81.