BOX SCORE

GREELEY, Colo. – Longwood University closed its 16-day, seven-game men’s basketball road trip with a disappointing 99-91 loss at Northern Colorado Monday night.  Freshman Lamar Barrett/Providence, R.I. (St. Andrews) led the Lancers (1-20) with a career-high 23 points, while Erik Olson led the Bears (5-13) with a career-high 32 points.  Longwood will now take a much-needed 19 days off before hosting South Carolina State on January 29 at 7 p.m. in Willett Hall.

Northern Colorado jumped ahead 4-0 in the first minute of the game before Longwood scored seven unanswered points to lead 7-4 at 17:55.  A jumper from Barrett made it 9-7 (17:24) and the game was tied 14-14 with 15:27 left in the first half.  The Bears, however, used a 14-6 run to lead 28-20, their largest lead of the period, with 9:15 remaining in the half.  The Lancers battled back, though, outscoring the hosts 15-8 to pull within 36-35 at 1:21, and trailed 39-37 at the intermission.  Barrett led the way for LU with 12 first-half points, while Olson tallied 15 points.

Early in the second half, Northern Colorado led 44-40 (18:41) before scoring seven unanswered points to lead 51-40 with 17:08 on the clock.  A three-pointer from sophomore Husein Pistoljevic/Richland, Wash. (Hanford) cut the lead to 53-47 at 15:27 but another outburst by the Bears (20-6) made it 73-56 with 10:30 remaining.  Longwood was within 78-69 at 7:30 on a three-pointer from sophomore Michael Jefferson/Chesterfield (Meadowbrook) before UNC again went back ahead by double-digits at 87-74 (5:55).  The Lancers closed to within seven points on two occasions down the stretch (92-85, 3:44; 94-87, 2:24) on a three-pointer from Barrett and a pair of free throws by sophomore Maurice Sumter/Alexandria (T.C. Williams).  Unfortunately, that was as close as the visitors could get.

Barrett’s career-high 23 points included 5-6 three-pointers, adding five rebounds for Longwood.  Jefferson finished with 22 points, while Sumter added 15 points and eight rebounds.  Pistoljevic and sophomore Leland Beale/Poquoson (Oak Ridge, N.C. Military Academy) each contributed 11 points for the Lancers, including a trio of three-pointers by Pistoljevic.  LU shot 52% (35-68) from the field, including 55% (12-22) on three-pointers, and 64% (9-14) at the line.  The Lancers hit 59% (20-34) from the field in the second half, including 58% (7-12) on three-pointers.

Olson was perfect from the field, making 12-12 shots, including 5-5 on three-pointers, adding nine rebounds and six assists for Northern Colorado.  Kirk Archibeque added 28 points (11-13 FG), and Sean Nolen had 16 points and six assists for the Bears.  UNC shot 67% (36-54) from the field, including 58% (14-24) on three-pointers, and 65% (13-20) at the line.  The Bears hit 70% (21-30) from the field in the second half, including 60% (9-15) on three-pointers.