December 22, 2006
BOX SCORE
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Longwood University made 12-14 free throws over the final 4:10 en route to a 73-67 men’s basketball victory past Charleston Southern University Friday during the Findlay Toyota/Las Vegas Classic at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Lancers (4-10) stopped a seven-game losing streak with the neutral-site triumph, led by seniors Clayton Morgan/Brooklyn, N.Y. (Fashion Institute) and Maurice Sumter/Alexandria (T.C. Williams) with 20 points and 19 points, respectively.
The Buccaneers (5-7) were led by Donnell Covington with 31 points. Longwood will play its final game in the exempt event against Kennesaw State on Saturday, Dec. 23, at 5:30 p.m. ET in Las Vegas.
Longwood trailed early as Charleston Southern scored the first four points of the contest before three consecutive three-point field goals, including two by Sumter, pushed the Lancers in front 9-6 at 16:23. Longwood led the rest of the first half, taking its largest lead at 29-21 with 6:46 left before halftime on a basket and two free throws by Sumter. Covington kept the Buccaneers close in the opening half with 16 points, though the Lancers led 37-32 at the intermission as Sumter (13) and Morgan (10) combined for 23 first-half points.
Charleston Southern started fast in the second half, outscoring Longwood 15-6 to forge ahead 47-43 with 14:17 remaining. The Buccaneers still led 54-51 at 10:24 before the Lancers tightened their defensive pressure and did not allow a CSU field goal for the next 9:05 while taking a 65-59 advantage. During that stretch, the Buccaneers only managed three free throws as Longwood took control with its 14-5 run. The Lancers secured the outcome with 8-10 free throws over the final 1:17, including 6-6 by junior Brandon Giles/Gaithersburg, Md. (Magruder). Covington added eight late points over the final 1:03 to provide for the final six-point margin.
Morgan finished with 20 points, adding eight rebounds before fouling out with 2:12 left, to lead Longwood. Sumter added 19 points, six rebounds, and three steals for the Lancers, while sophomore Kirk Williams/White Plains, N.Y. (Woodlands) contributed 12 points and eight rebounds off the bench. Giles had eight points and a career-high nine assists. LU shot 41% (24-59) from the field, including 29% (5-17) on three-pointers, and 80% (20-25) at the free throw line. The Lancers also out-rebounded CSU 38-36, and had a season-low of just 10 turnovers in the contest.
Covington finished with 31 points, adding three assists, to lead Charleston Southern, while Dwayne Jackson grabbed nine rebounds for the Buccaneers. CSU shot 46% (25-54) from the field, including 47% (7-15) on three-pointers, and only 42% (10-24) at the line.
Kennesaw State defeated Maryland-Eastern Shore 67-49 in the day’s other afternoon game.
