December 10, 2005
BOX SCORE
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Longwood University battled the nation’s fourth-ranked men’s basketball team for 40 minutes while falling 90-77 to #4 Villanova University Saturday night in Atlantic City, New Jersey at historic Boardwalk Hall. The Lancers (2-7) were led by junior Michael Jefferson/Chesterfield (Meadowbrook) with 19 points, while the unbeaten Wildcats (6-0) were led by Randy Foye with a game-high 27 points, including 22 points in the second half. Longwood’s effort should leave no doubt the program is vastly improved from a year ago. The Lancers will play again next Saturday, Dec. 17, hosting High Point University at 2 p.m. in Willett Hall.
Playing the first game in Boardwalk Hall in nine years, Villanova of the Big East Conference led 3-0 when Mike Nardi made a three-pointer just 16-seconds into the contest. Longwood tied it at 3-3 on a free throw from junior Clayton Morgan/Brooklyn, N.Y. (Fashion Institute) followed by a tip-in from classmate Maurice Sumter/Alexandria (T.C. Williams) at 18:33. The nationally-ranked Wildcats, however, scored the next 12 unanswered points to lead 15-3 with 14:55 left before halftime. The Lancers fought back, though, getting a jumper from Jefferson and an old-fashioned three-point play inside from freshman Kirk Williams/White Plains, N.Y. (Woodlands) to trail 15-8 at 13:15.
Villanova stretched the margin back to 10 points again, leading 22-12 with 9:43 left until the intermission. Longwood would again retaliate, cutting the advantage to 26-21 at 7:45 as sophomore Dana Smith/Woodbridge (C.D. Hylton) nailed back-to-back three-point field goals. The Lancers were within four points, 29-25, after a layup from Williams at 5:32. The Wildcats finally took control of the opening half with a 15-7 run to lead 44-32 at halftime, though Jefferson made a late three-pointer to prevent a larger margin.
Longwood was within 10 points early in the second half at 44-34 following a pair of free throws from Morgan, and trailed 50-38 at 15:55 after a layup from Jefferson. Villanova once-again gained momentum and opened a 62-44 lead with 12:21 remaining as Foye tallied seven quick points, including 5-6 free throws during the stretch. Four of the free throws came courtesy two technical fouls against the Lancers, one following a monstrous alley-oop dunk by Williams (12:58) and the other against the LU bench (12:21).
Villanova, who entered the game with a 27.8-point margin of victory this season, took its one and only 20-point lead of the contest at 5:27 as Foye made back-to-back baskets along with another free throw. Longwood was able to reduce the margin again as Jefferson made four free throws in the final 1:48 in addition to a basket from Williams and a late three-pointer from junior Husein Pistoljevic/Richland, Wash. (Hanford). The Wildcats of head coach Jay Wright did not empty the bench until 1:48 remained.
Jefferson added four assists, three rebounds, two blocks, and a steal to his team-high 19 points for Longwood. Sumter finished with 17 points and eight rebounds, adding two blocks and two steals, while Morgan contributed 12 points and eight rebounds. Williams had nine points and six rebounds off the bench for the Lancers, while sophomore Lamar Barrett/Providence, R.I. (St. Andrews) posted seven points and six rebounds. Longwood shot 44% (27-61) from the field, including 50% (6-12) on three-pointers, and 77% (17-22) at the free throw line. The Lancers did out-rebound the Wildcats 44-35, but had a season-high 19 turnovers that led to 15 VU points.
As mentioned, Foye scored 22 of his game-high 27 points in the second half, including 17 points during the first 7:40 of the final 20 minutes for Villanova. He added four assists, three rebounds, and two steals. Allan Ray added 20 points for the Wildcats, while Will Sheridan finished with 13 points and eight rebounds, though he only scored two points after the intermission. Nardi contributed 12 points and five assists for VU. Villanova shot 48% (32-67) from the field, including 56% (15-27) in the second half, 47% (9-19) on three-pointers, and just 55% (17-31) at the line. The Wildcats only had eight turnovers in the contest, while Longwood committed 19 miscues, though only four mistakes came in the second half.
Villanova, ranked #4 in the latest polls, was the fourth Top 20 opponent for Longwood in less than a year – though the first this season. Last season, the Lancers played at #1 Illinois (79-105) and at #6 Wake Forest (47-88) while playing #17 Cincinnati (69-95) in Las Vegas. This game had been arranged by the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority, in conjunction with the New York-based Worldwide Marketing & Media Group.
