February 21, 2005
BOX SCORE
HARRISONBURG, Va. -- Longwood University dropped a heartbreaking 72-70 men’s basketball decision at James Madison Monday night in Harrisonburg as the host Dukes scored the last four points of the game over the final 39-seconds. Sophomores Michael Jefferson/Chesterfield (Meadowbrook) and Maurice Sumter/Alexandria (T.C. Williams) each scored 17 points for the Lancers (1-28). Jomo Belfor and Cavell Johnson each scored 18 points for the Dukes (5-20). Longwood will play again Wednesday, Feb. 23, at nationally-ranked #6 Wake Forest University at 7 p.m. in Winston, Salem, North Carolina.
In a contest that was closely-played throughout, Longwood had taken a 70-68 lead at 1:04 on a layup by freshman Lamar Barrett/Providence, R.I. (St. Andrews) off a nice pass from Jefferson. JMU ran 25-seconds off the shot clock before Ray Barbosa made a three-pointer to put the Dukes ahead 71-70 at 0:39. LU worked the clock down around 10-seconds before Jefferson took a 14-foot jumper in the lane that missed, but the Lancers still managed two offensive put-back attempts in close that just would not fall either. JMU finally rebounded at 0:01.8 and was fouled as Chris Cathlin made 1-2 free throws for the game’s final disappointing two-point margin.
Overall, the game witnessed 16 lead-changes and nine ties as James Madison ended its eight-game losing streak while extending the Longwood winless stretch to 17 games. The Lancers led 10-7 early at 15:50 following a pair of three-pointers from Barrett and freshman Brandon Giles/Gaithersburg, Md. (Magruder). JMU rallied back with a 9-2 run to lead 16-12 with 12:51 left in the first half. An 8-0 run by LU had the visitors ahead 20-16 at 11:11, and the lead was 26-23 with 7:22 remaining in the period as Giles nailed back-to-back three-pointers.
Longwood led 33-30 at 1:54 on a layup from Jefferson before the Dukes closed the half with a 10-2 run to lead 40-35 at the intermission, aided by three free throws from Belfor who was fouled on a three-point attempt with just one-second left before the break. JMU’s five-point advantage was due in large part to its 55% (16-29) shooting from the field, including four three-pointers, as Johnson had 14 points in the first half on 7-9 shooting inside. The Lancers, though, drained seven three-pointers in the opening half, making 54% (7-13) from beyond the arc.
James Madison extended its advantage to 46-38 at 16:53 before Longwood used a 10-0 run to go back in front 48-46 with 14:32 remaining. Sumter led the run with seven points, including a three-pointer and a monster one-handed dunk while driving the lane. JMU took a 53-50 lead at 9:07 with an old-fashioned three-point play by Barbosa. The Lancers battled back into a 57-57 tie with 6:41 on the clock as Jefferson nailed a three-pointer. The Dukes looked to finally have control with a 68-62 lead at 2:48 after a pair of free throws from Belfor, but a three-pointer from sophomore Husein Pistoljevic/Richland, Wash. (Hanford) at 2:31, followed by three free throws from Pistoljevic at 2:01 – he was fouled on a trey attempt – tied the contest at 68-68 to set-up the final action of the night.
Sumter scored 13 of his 17 points in the second half for Longwood, adding eight rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Jefferson scored nine of his 17 points in the first half, adding four assists and two steals for the Lancers. Pistoljevic finished with 15 points off the bench, making 4-6 three pointers along with two steals. Giles had nine points on 3-3 shooting from three-point territory, all in the first half, while Barrett contributed seven points, six rebounds, and two assists. LU shot 41% (24-59) from the field, including 52% (11-21) on three-pointers, and 79% (11-14) at the line. The Lancers out-rebounded the hosts 36-31 and committed just nine turnovers to JMU’s 11.
Johnson added nine rebounds to his 18 points for James Madison, while Belfor added seven rebounds and four assists to his 18 points. Barbosa finished with 14 points and three assists, and Cathlin had seven points for the Dukes. JMU shot 49% (26-53) from the field, including 38% (6-16) on three-pointers, and 61% (14-23) at the line.
Longwood’s game at #6 Wake Forest will be its third game this season against a prominent Top Twenty program, and first-ever contest against an opponent from the prestigious Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The Lancers lost at #1 Illinois 105-79 in Champaign, Ill. back on Dec. 28, and fell to #17 Cincinnati 95-69 in Las Vegas, Nev. on Dec. 30. The game will be broadcast locally on Bobcat Country Radio, WBBC 93.5 FM, and can be heard free via the Internet at longwoodlancers.com.
