BOX SCORE

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Longwood University dropped a 63-58 men’s basketball decision at Hartford Tuesday night in Connecticut.  The Lancers (1-18) were led by sophomore Husein Pistoljevic/Richland, Wash. (Hanford) with 12 points, while the Hawks (4-7) were led by Aaron Cook with a game-high 23 points, including 18 in the first half.  Longwood will play again Friday, Jan. 7, at Utah Valley State College at 9:05 p.m. ET in Orem, Utah.

At Hartford, Longwood fell behind early as the Hawks led 8-2 at 17:11.  The Lancers, however, rallied back with a 12-6 run to tie the game at 14-14 with 12:58 left in the half.  LU continued its momentum and led 32-22 at 4:27 while outscoring the hosts 30-14 after the initial disadvantage.  Longwood led 34-24 with 3:28 remaining in the period before Hartford scored the final eight points to close to within 34-32 at the intermission.

Longwood maintained its narrow lead early in the second half, leading 38-36 at 18:00 before Hartford used an 8-0 run to go ahead 44-38 with 14:34 left.  The Lancers, however, came right back with seven-straight points to lead 45-44 at 12:46 as freshman Lamar Barrett/Providence, R.I. (St. Andrews) tallied two baskets ahead of Pistoljevic’s fourth three-pointer of the contest.  Unfortunately, it was LU’s last lead of the night as the Hawks took a 54-49 lead with 9:18 to play, and prevented the Lancers from getting closer than a point down the stretch.  It was 59-58 with 3:26 on the clock following a three-point play by sophomore Maurice Sumter/Alexandria (T.C. Williams) but the hosts secured the win with the final two baskets of the contest.

Pistoljevic’s team-high 12 points came on 4-7 shooting beyond the three-point arc, while Barrett finished with 10 points.  Sumter added nine points for the Lancers, while junior Chad Kosmo/Northport, Maine (Maine Central Institute) and sophomore Michael Jefferson/Chesterfield (Meadowbrook) each contributed eight points.  LU shot 47% (26-55) from the field, including 24% (5-21) on three-pointers, and 100% (1-1) at the line – yes – making its only free throw attempt of the contest.

Cook’s 23 points included four three-pointers but only five points came after halftime.  David Ruffin was the only other player in double-figure scoring for the Hawks with 10 points.  UH shot 53% (27-51) from the field, including 46% (5-11) on three-pointers, and only 27% (4-15) at the line.