February 19, 2004

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood University dropped an 83-77 overtime decision to visiting Winston-Salem State (N.C.) University in men’s college basketball Thursday night in Lancer Hall.  The game was tied at 71-71 through regulation before the Rams outscored the Lancers 12-6 in the extra period.  Longwood is now 4-20 on the year and will host Utah Valley State College this Saturday, Feb. 21, at 3 p.m. in Lancer Hall.  Winston-Salem State improved to 16-11.

Longwood had rallied from a five-point deficit in the final 1:59 of regulation to force the extra period when freshman Michael Jefferson/Chesterfield (Meadowbrook) made a game-tying three-point field goal with 31.8-seconds left.  Winston-Salem State missed a potential game-winning shot at the end (buzzer) of regulation.  The Lancers had trailed 68-63 before Jefferson scored on a conventional three-point play to tie the game at 68-68 (1:15), and then tied it again with the three-pointer (:31.8), that followed a three-pointer from Ram guard Rashad McGee (:47).  In OT, W-SSU led 77-76 with 2:21 remaining after another Jefferson basket, then outscored LU 6-1 over the final 1:45 of the extra period.

Longwood had started the game fast, leading 29-14 with 8:05 left before halftime, and was in front 40-26 at 3:12 as Jefferson scored 16 first-half points.  Winston-Salem State, however, fought back to within 40-35 at the intermission with a 9-0 run to close the half.  The Rams continued strong in the second half, and took their first lead of the game at 42-40 with 17:11 on the clock.  W-SSU continued its momentum and led 58-52 at 8:51, maintaining the advantage at 68-63 before the late-game activities already mentioned.

Jefferson finished with a game-high 26 points, adding six rebounds and three assists to lead the Lancers.  Freshmen Husein Pistoljevic/Richland, Wash. (Hanford) and Maurice Sumter/Alexandria (T.C. Williams) each added 15 points to the effort, with Sumter also grabbing a game-high 10 rebounds for a double-double.  He had six assists and five steals as well.  Longwood finished the contest shooting 47% (28-60) from the field after a hot 58% (15-26) in the first half, including 40% (10-25) overall on three-pointers, and 52% (11-21) at the line.

McGee scored a team-high 17 points along with four assists to lead six Rams in double-figure scoring.  Vincent Sessoms added 15 points and six rebounds, Terris Sifford had 14 points and seven rebounds, John Adams scored 11 points, while Aleggrie Guinn and Jay Maynard each contributed 10 points.  Winston-Salem State shot 53% (31-58) from the field overall with a torrid 65% (17-26) in the second half and OT, including 46% (6-13) on three-pointers overall, and 71% (15-21) at the line.