November 19, 2005
BOX SCORE
LINCOLN, Neb. -- Longwood University dropped a hard-fought 83-73 men’s basketball decision to Louisiana Tech Saturday night in Lincoln, Nebraska during day two of the John Thompson Foundation Challenge at the University of Nebraska. The Lancers (0-2) were led by junior Michael Jefferson/Chesterfield (Meadowbrook) with 26 points, while the Bulldogs (1-1) were led by Paul Millsap with game-highs of 27 points and 10 rebounds. Longwood will conclude the three-game exempt tournament with a contest against Yale on Sunday at 2 p.m..
Longwood jumped ahead early as Jefferson connected on the first of his four three-point field goals for a 3-2 advantage at 18:57. A jumper by Jefferson pushed the lead to 9-6 at 17:03 before Louisiana Tech of the Western Athletic Conference scored seven unanswered points to lead 13-9 with 14:25 left in the first half. The Bulldogs led 18-13 (12:14) before a pair of baskets from junior Maurice Sumter/Alexandria (T.C. Williams) pulled the Lancers within 18-17 at 10:45. La. Tech increased its margin to 10 points, leading 34-24 with 5:22 on the first-half clock on a bucket inside from Millsap who has led the nation in rebounding each of the last two seasons. LU, however, battled back and closed the half on an 11-5 run, including seven points from Jefferson, to pull within 39-35 at the intermission.
Longwood came out strong after the break and quickly tied the contest at 41-41 (18:34) before a questionable foul call turned into a three-point play by Louisiana Tech that sparked an 8-0 run resulting in a 49-41 advantage at 16:51. The Lancers never recovered and only managed to reduce the lead under 10 points three times over the final 13-plus minutes (55-48, 13:12; 60-51, 10:03; 73-64, 4:09). The Bulldogs took their largest lead of the game at 81-64 with 2:42 remaining before LU outscored them 9-2 down the stretch, including the final seven points from reserves against the La. Tech regulars.
“It is obviously not the results that we’re ultimately looking for, but I am very pleased with our effort and performance against a very high level of competition, especially on back-to-back nights,” explained third-year head coach Mike Gillian.
Jefferson’s team-high 26 points included 4-6 shooting behind the three-point arc while he added two assists, one block, and one steal for Longwood. Freshman Kirk Williams/White Plains, N.Y. (Woodlands) added 13 points, three rebounds, and two steals off the bench for the Lancers before fouling out late, while Sumter finished with 11 points, eight rebounds, and two assists. Sophomore Lamar Barrett/Providence, R.I. (St. Andrews) had eight points, five rebounds, and four assists for LU. Longwood shot 50% (28-56) from the field, including 33% (6-18) on three-pointers, and 85% (11-13) at the free throw line.
Millsap’s double-double of 27 points and 10 rebounds included 11-15 shooting from the floor along with four steals for Louisiana Tech. Jerome Richardson and Corey Dean each contributed 17 points for the Bulldogs. La. Tech shot 54% (29-54) from the field, including 30% (3-10) on three-pointers, and 67% (22-33) at the line – 79% (15-19) in the second half as they went to the line 20 more times than Longwood.
Yale (1-1) lost to host Nebraska 73-64 earlier on Saturday after defeating Louisiana Tech 69-68 late Friday.
