February 14, 2005
BOX SCORE
FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University dropped a 74-51 men’s basketball decision to visiting UMKC Monday night in Willett Hall. Brandon Temple led the Kangaroos (13-9) with a game-high 16 points, while sophomore Michael Jefferson/Chesterfield (Meadowbrook) scored 12 points for the Lancers (1-26). Longwood will play again Wednesday, Feb. 16, at Appalachian State in North Carolina at 7 p.m., while UMKC returns to Mid-Continent Conference action Feb. 17, hosting Western Illinois in Kansas City, Missouri.
Longwood and UMKC were tied early at 2-2 with 17:40 left in the first half before the Kangaroos used a 16-2 run to lead 18-4 at 10:51. Quinton Day sparked the early run with six points, including a three-pointer. The Lancers trimmed the advantage to 18-8 with 9:10 remaining in the opening half before UMKC put together another run, this time at 9-2 behind five points from 6-9, 322-pound Carlton Aaron, to lead 27-10 at 4:01. The visitors extended the margin to 21 points while leading 37-16 at the intermission.
UMKC continued with its momentum to lead 47-18 with 16:59 on the clock as Tim Blackwell scored four quick points. The Kangaroos took their largest lead of the contest at 31 points (56-25, 10:11) midway through the second half. Longwood managed to reduce the margin to 22 points down the stretch (68-46) as the Lancer reserves outscored the UMKC bench 10-6 over the final 3:34.
Jefferson added five rebounds to his team-high 12 points for Longwood. Junior Chad Kosmo/Northport, Maine (Maine Central Institute) finished with six points, five rebounds, and a career-high five blocks for the Lancers. Sophomores Darren Holmes/Virginia Beach (Princess Anne) and Husein Pistoljevic/Richland, Wash. (Hanford) each had six points as well for the hosts, a season-high for Holmes off the bench. LU shot 39% (22-57) from the field, including 14% (2-14) on three-pointers, and 46% (5-11) at the line.
Temple’s game-high 16 points included 4-4 three-pointers, adding four assists for UMKC. Day finished with 14 points and four steals for the Kangaroos, while Aaron added a double-double of 11 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. UMKC shot 42% (26-62) from the field, including 44% (7-16) on three-pointers, and 71% (15-21) at the line.
Longwood has now dropped a school-record 15 consecutive games, while UMKC has won 13 of its last 15 games after beginning the season 0-7. The Kangaroos’ 13-player roster features eight transfer student-athletes, including all five of their starters.
