March 4, 2006
BOX SCORE
FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University dropped a difficult 73-63 men’s basketball decision to visiting Utah Valley State College Saturday in Willett Hall. Sophomore Dana Smith/Woodbridge (C.D. Hylton) led the Lancers (10-20) with a career-high 21 points, adding a game-high eight rebounds. The Wolverines (16-13) were led by Matt Peterson with a career-high 28 points, including seven three-point field goals. Longwood has completed the 2005-06 campaign with a final record of 10-20, an impressive differential of plus-9.5 after last season’s 1-30 record, a turnaround year among the top 10 in Division I this season.
Longwood fell behind early against Utah Valley State as the Wolverines jumped ahead 15-5 at 14:11 of the first half as Peterson made three consecutive three-pointers. The Lancers battled to within 18-14 at 10:59 behind two-straight dunks from Smith and another slam dunk from freshman Kirk Williams/White Plains, N.Y. (Woodlands). UVSC went back in front by double-figures at 30-19 with 5:51 left before halftime as Peterson scored five quick points, including another trey, and David Heck tallied nine points. LU closed to within 33-28 at 2:00 on a pair of free throws by Smith before the visitors extended the margin to 39-30 at the intermission. Utah Valley shot 50% (15-30) from the field in the first half, including 6-13 on three-pointers (46%), as Peterson was 5-7 beyond the arc during the first 20 minutes for 17 points.
Utah Valley State increased its lead to 47-32 with 15:55 left to play before Longwood began charging back into the game. The Lancers used an 18-8 run to close to within 55-50 at 8:39 as Smith scored seven points. This stretch of the contest also witnessed 14 personal fouls whistled during the span of 7:16, calls that were made after nine fouls had already been called during the first 4:05 of the second half. All told, the game officials (on conference tournament Saturday) whistled 40 personal fouls, including two technical fouls, in the contest that saw 51 free throws attempted by the two teams.
The Wolverines went back ahead 65-54 at 4:51 as Peterson nailed two more three-pointers. Longwood made one final run to within 68-63 at 1:05 on a layup from Smith but could get no closer. The Lancers were just 8-16 at the free throw line in the second half, although UVSC was not much better at 12-19.
Smith finished 6-9 from the field and 8-11 at the line for his career-high 21 points to lead Longwood, adding the eight rebounds as the hosts out-rebounded the visitors 37-27. Junior Clayton Morgan/Brooklyn, N.Y. (Fashion Institute) added 14 points and six rebounds, while classmate Maurice Sumter/Alexandria (T.C. Williams) contributed 10 points and six rebounds. Sophomore Lamar Barrett/Providence, R.I. (St. Andrews) had nine points and eight rebounds. LU shot 44% (23-52) from the field, including 20% (3-15) on three-pointers, and 54% (14-26) at the line.
Peterson led Utah Valley State with his career-high 28 points, including 7-11 on three-pointers, followed by Heck with 13 points. Ben Devoe added nine points and eight rebounds for the Wolverines. UVSC shot 51% (25-49) from the field, including 42% (8-19) on three-pointers, and 60% (15-25) at the line.
