December 17, 2006
BOX SCORE
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Longwood University dropped a 79-60 men’s basketball road decision at the University of New Mexico Sunday night in the first-round of the 2006 Findlay Toyota/Las Vegas Classic at The Pit in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Lancers (3-9) had a 33-32 lead at halftime, and were led by senior Maurice Sumter/Alexandria (T.C. Williams) with a team-high 16 points. The host Lobos (7-2) were led by junior transfer J.R. Giddens (Kansas) with a game-high 25 points, including 14 in the decisive second half. Longwood will play its second-round game in the exempt tournament at the University of Southern California on Tuesday, December 19, at 10:30 p.m. ET at the Galen Center in Los Angeles, California.
Longwood allowed New Mexico to score the first five points of the contest before a 12-2 run gave the Lancers a 12-7 lead just 5:05 into the contest as Sumter scored seven quick points. The Lobos came right back to tie the game at 17-17 with 11:52 left in the half but the visitors battled back to lead 24-17 at 9:13 on a three-point field goal from senior Clayton Morgan/Brooklyn, N.Y. (Fashion Institute). The hosts tied it again at 24-24 on consecutive lay-ups by senior transfer Aaron Johnson (Penn State), and went ahead 32-27 at 2:02 on a pair of free throws by Giddens. Longwood, however, scored the final six points of the period – all by sophomore Kirk Williams/White Plains, N.Y. (Woodlands) – including the final two baskets on dunks by the second-year player as the crowd of 10,586 was stunned and silent.
Sumter nailed a three-pointer early in the second half for a 36-34 lead at 19:20, and the contest was tied at 39-39 with 17:59 remaining on a three-pointer from senior Husein Pistoljevic/Richland, Wash. (Hanford). Sumter’s lay-up at 16:00 had the Lancers within one at 43-42 but seven unanswered points made it a 50-42 cushion for New Mexico. A lay-up from Morgan closed the margin to 56-49 with 9:21 left and Longwood had three scoring opportunities to close the gap even further but could not convert. Unfortunately, the Lobos proceeded to score 16-straight points to finally take control at 72-49 with 4:44 on the clock. Giddens and Johnson combined for 10 points during the decisive 2:52 explosion before each team emptied their respective benches at 4:19.
Sumter scored a team-high 16 points to lead Longwood, while Williams added 13 points (6-9 FG) and five rebounds off the bench. Morgan finished with 11 points, six rebounds, and a career-high five assists for the Lancers. LU shot 41% (23-56) from the field, including 33% (7-21) on three-pointers, and 54% (7-13) at the free throw line.
Giddens scored a game-high 25 points (9-13 FG), adding five assists and three steals to lead New Mexico; clearly the most talented player on the floor. Johnson finished with a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Lobos. UNM shot 53% (28-53) from the field, including 56% (18-32) in the second half, 43% (9-21) on three-pointers, and 82% (14-17) at the line.
