November 25, 2006

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University took an 88-60 men’s basketball home victory past visiting Shenandoah University Saturday afternoon in Willett Hall. Senior Husein Pistoljevic/Richland, Wash. (Hanford) led the Lancers (3-3) with both a game-high and season-high 21 points off the bench while sophomore Kirk Williams/White Plains, N.Y. (Woodlands) added his first career double-double with 12 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. The Division III Hornets (1-1) were led by Jeremiah Lawrence with 19 points. Longwood will play again on Tuesday night, November 28, on the road at North Carolina A&T in Greensboro, North Carolina beginning at 7:30 p.m..

Longwood broke open a close game early in the second half with a decisive 24-1 run that turned a 42-41 deficit at 18:11 into a commanding 65-43 advantage at 8:19. The offensive explosion included eight points from Williams and six points from senior Maurice Sumter/Alexandria (T.C. Williams). Pistoljevic capped the scoring barrage with the first of his six second-half three-point field goals as he made 6-10 three-pointers over the final 8:19. The Lancers took their largest lead of the contest at 32 points (88-56) with 1:28 remaining on Pistoljevic’s final three-pointer as the fourth-year player finished with 18 second-half points. Longwood shot 53% (17-32) from the field, including 55% (6-11) on three-pointers, over the final 20 minutes.

Longwood had led 40-36 at halftime as the visitors kept pounding the ball inside for 28 points in the paint while also out-rebounding the hosts 24-19. Shenandoah’s three inside players combined for 26 of the team’s 36 first-half points, including nine from Lawrence. The Lancers took their largest lead of the opening half at 35-26 with 4:00 left before the break on a pair of free throws from senior Clayton Morgan/Brooklyn, N.Y. (Fashion Institute). Sumter and junior Lamar Barrett/Providence, R.I. (St. Andrews) each scored eight first-half points while freshman Kevin Swecker/Manchester, Md. (Mount Saint Joseph) came off the bench to contribute seven points, including a three-pointer. The Hornets had opened the game with the first three points (3-0, 19:10) for their largest lead of the entire contest.

Pistoljevic finished with a game-high, and season-high of 21 points, making 7-11 from three-point territory in 16 minutes for Longwood. Sumter finished with 15 points (7-10 FG), adding three blocks, while Williams earned his first career double-double with 12 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, also contributing career-highs of four assists, three blocks, and two steals for the Lancers. Barrett had 10 points and a game-high six assists, and Morgan totaled nine points and eight rebounds. LU shot 50% (33-66) from the field, including a season-high 48% (12-25) on three-point field goals, and 67% (10-15) at the free throw line. The Lancers took a 46-40 advantage in rebounds, and also forced 26 turnovers -- converting to 26 points.

Lawrence finished with 19 points to lead Shenandoah, while Onyie Onunaku added 12 points and eight rebounds. The Hornets shot 36% (24-66) from the field, including 17% (2-12) on three-pointers, and 50% (10-20) at the line.

Pistoljevic moved into second-place on the all-time Longwood three-point field goal list, now totaling 164 career three-pointers. DeVonne Johnson (1992-96) is the Lancer career leader with 167.