December 3, 2005

BOX SCORE

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Longwood University dropped a hard-fought yet disappointing 79-69 men’s basketball road decision at UMKC Saturday night at storied Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri.  The Lancers (2-5) were led by junior Michael Jefferson/Chesterfield (Meadowbrook) with 17 points, while the Kangaroos (3-1) were led by Dee Ayuba and Quinton Day with 21 points each.  Longwood will play again Monday, Dec. 5, at Kansas State of the Big 12 Conference in Manhattan, Kansas beginning at 8 p.m..

Longwood battled UMKC throughout in a closely-played contest that witnessed 11 lead-changes and nine ties.  The Lancers got on the scoreboard first as Jefferson nailed a three-pointer at 19:47, and led 9-2 just 2:41 into the game on a jumper from Jefferson that followed two offensive rebound baskets from junior Clayton Morgan/Brooklyn, N.Y. (Fashion Institute).  The Kangaroos rallied back to tie the game at 9-9 (15:44) en route to leading 19-13 at 9:20 with a 17-4 run. 

Longwood came right back, though, and tied the game at 21-21 with 8:08 left before halftime on consecutive three-pointers from Jefferson and junior Husein Pistoljevic/Richland, Wash. (Hanford).  The hosts again forged in front, leading 34-28 at 2:30 with a 13-7 run.  The visitors, however, finished the period strong with an 8-0 run over the final 2:17 to lead 36-34 at the intermission.  Morgan had 13 points and nine rebounds at the break for the Lancers.

The second half began with five lead-changes in the first 2:32 as sophomore Lamar Barrett/Providence, R.I. (St. Andrews) completed an old-fashioned three-point play to give Longwood a 44-42 lead at 17:28.  UMKC took advantage of a 14-2 run to open its first double-digit lead at 56-46 with 13:50 remaining as Day scored five quick points.  The Lancers refused to quit and again battled back with their own 13-2 run to go back ahead 59-58 at 11:23 on a layup from Jefferson.  He had began the run with another three-pointer, while freshman Kirk Williams/White Plains, N.Y. (Woodlands) added four points.  Williams added a pair of free throws at 9:26 that provided for what would be the last lead of the night for the visitors at 61-60.

Unfortunately, Longwood would go the next 6:05 without scoring as UMKC answered with 12 unanswered points to lead 72-61 as Ayuba tallied seven points that included a run-closing three-pointer.  It was only his second trey in seven attempts this season.  A pair of free throws from Jefferson at 3:21 stopped the scoring drought but the damage was done.  The Lancers closed to within 74-65 at 2:39 on a tip-in from Williams but LU could get no closer while falling by the 10-point final margin.

Jefferson’s team-high 17 points for Longwood included a trio of three-pointers, while Morgan finished with his first career double-double of 13 points and a game and career-high 16 rebounds.  Morgan had 10 offensive rebounds, one more than the UMKC team totaled.  Williams and junior Maurice Sumter/Alexandria (T.C. Williams) each added 10 points for the Lancers, and Williams also grabbed seven rebounds off the bench.  LU shot 35% (23-66) from the field, including 24% (6-25) on three-pointers, and 81% (17-21) at the free throw line.  The Lancers did out-rebound the taller hosts 40-37.

Day added eight assists and five steals to his 21 points for UMKC, though he also had eight turnovers.  Ayuba added nine rebounds to his 21-point effort for the Kangaroos, while Tim Blackwell contributed 18 points and seven assists, scoring 14 points in the second half.  UMKC shot 55% (32-58) from the field, including 36% (5-14) on three-pointers, and 59% (10-17) at the line.  The hosts took full advantage of only 14 turnovers by the Lancers, scoring 25 points off those miscues.  UMKC had defeated LU 74-51 last February 14 in Farmville, leading 37-16 at the intermission.

Municipal Auditorium in downtown Kansas City has hosted more NCAA Tournament Final Fours than any other venue as nine National Championships have been played in the building, though the last was in 1965.  The 9,827-seat facility has also hosted the NAIA National Tournament for over 50 years.