November 13, 2007
BOX SCORE
FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University placed five players in double-figure scoring en route to an 80-67 home men’s basketball victory past visiting Norfolk State University Tuesday night in Willett Hall. The Lancers (1-1) led for the final 36:51 as senior Brandon Giles/Gaithersburg, Md. (Magruder) scored a team-high 17 points, while senior Tony Murphy led the Spartans (1-1) with a game-high 20 points. Longwood will remain home in Farmville and play again on Thursday, November 15, hosting NAIA Virginia-Wise in Willett Hall beginning at 7 p.m..
Longwood spotted Norfolk State an early 5-0 advantage before scoring 13 unanswered points to lead 13-5 with 14:55 left in the first half as senior Lamar Barrett/Providence, R.I. (St. Andrews) (5) and junior Kirk Williams/White Plains, N.Y. (Woodlands) (4) combined for nine quick points. The Lancers increased their early run to 21-3 for a 21-8 advantage at 11:15 as Giles and redshirt-junior Dana Smith/Woodbridge (C.D. Hylton) added three-point field goals and junior Ryan Bogan/Oxford, Pa. (Harcum JC) had a basket as well. The Spartans closed to within 25-20 with a 12-4 run of their own but the hosts responded with a 10-4 spurt to lead 35-24 at 2:48 behind three-pointers from Giles and Bogan along with baskets from Barrett and Smith. LU led 35-28 at the intermission after four late points from NSU to close the period.
Longwood increased it margin to 45-34 early in the second half at 15:24 after two more three-pointers from Smith and Giles sandwiched around layups by Williams and Barrett. Norfolk State battled back, though, and closed to within 49-47 with 12:28 remaining behind two three-pointers from Murphy and was within 57-54 at 9:57 before the Lancers took control for good. A 12-2 run with points from Barrett (2), Williams (4), Smith (2), and Giles (4) put the hosts ahead 69-56 with 5:29 on the clock and the visitors were no closer than 11 points the rest of the way as Longwood made 9-12 free throws over the final 4:22 for the final 13-point margin of victory.
Giles finished with 17 points to lead Longwood, making 3-3 three-pointers and adding four assists, while Bogan and Smith each had 15 points. Bogan’s effort was a career-high for the transfer as he added five rebounds, and Smith had seven rebounds for the Lancers. Williams finished with 14 points and nine rebounds, while Barrett contributed 13 points, six rebounds, four assists, and three steals. LU shot 46% (28-61) from the field, including 41% (7-17) on three-point field goals, and 81% (17-21) at the free throw line. The hosts also out-rebounded the visitors 39-24.
Murphy finished with 20 points to lead Norfolk State, while Michael Deloach had 11 points and Larry Vickers added 10. NSU shot 51% (25-49) from the field, including 33% (5-15) on three-pointers, and 60% (12-20) at the line.
Longwood evened the overall series between the two schools at 2-2 with its second consecutive win over Norfolk State in front of a Willett Hall crowd of 1,113. The Lancers defeated the Spartans 65-54 last November 15 in Norfolk. NSU had won its opener last Saturday at the University of Richmond, 72-69.
