November 15, 2007
BOX SCORE
FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University jumped ahead 16-2 to begin the game en route to an 89-67 men’s basketball home victory past visiting NAIA Virginia-Wise Thursday night in Willett Hall. The Lancers (2-1) never trailed in winning their second-straight contest as junior Kirk Williams/White Plains, N.Y. (Woodlands) scored a career-high 29 points along with a game-high 10 rebounds for his third career double-double; Robert Amis led the Highland Cavaliers (3-3) with 16 points. Longwood will play again on Sunday, November 18, at #8 Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana beginning at 12 p.m.. It is the Lancers’ first game of the the four-game, exempt Chicago Invitational Challenge and will be televised nationally on the Big Ten Network (BTN) -- available on DIRECTV (220) and the Dish Network (439).
Longwood jumped to the early 14-point advantage at 15:19 (16-2) behind five points from redshirt-junior Dana Smith/Woodbridge (C.D. Hylton) and four points from Williams. The Lancers increased their lead to 35-19 with 5:02 left before halftime as five players contributed to the offensive effort, including Smith (5) and junior Ryan Bogan/Oxford, Pa. (Harcum JC) who tallied six points, including a three-point field goal. Virginia-Wise, though, fought back to within 41-31 at the intermission behind a 12-6 run to close the half. Smith (12) and Bogan (8) combined for 20 first-half points for LU, and among Smith’s points was a dunk over a defender on lob pass.
Longwood extended its margin to 16 points again just 4:40 into the second half as Williams scored eight quick points for a 56-40 lead. The Lancers continued their push to lead 66-45 at 8:41 as Williams added four more points, including a crowd-pleasing dunk on a drive down the lane from the left wing, and added another dunk on a lob pass in the second half as well. The hosts took their largest lead at 81-58 with 4:23 remaining on a three-pointer from Williams who scored 22 points in the second half, while Smith added eight points in the period, including another high-flying dunk off a lob in transition. The Cavs were never closer than 15 points over the final 10:38 as LU was able to play its younger players down the stretch while shooting 66% (19-29) from the field over the final 20 minutes.
Williams finished with his career-high 29 points to lead Longwood, making 12-18 field goals (2-6 3FG) and 3-3 free throws, adding the game-high 10 rebounds for the double-double along with four steals. Smith added 20 points (9-13 FG, 1-1 3FG, 1-1 FT) along with eight rebounds and three steals. Bogan added 13 points, and senior Danny Wilson/Pantego, N.C. (Louisburg JC) quietly contributed career-highs of 11 points (4-6 FG, 3-3 FT) and five rebounds. LU shot 60% (36-60) from the field, including 41% (7-17) on three-point field goals, and 77% (10-13) at the free throw line. The hosts out-rebounded the visitors as well, 39-26, in front of a Willett Hall crowd of 1,015.
Amis finished with 16 points to lead Virginia-Wise, while Jarred Soles had 13 points and Joey Blackwell added 10. The Cavs shot 41% (24-58) from the field, including 26% (6-23) on three-pointers, and 59% (13-22) at the line.
The game at #8 Indiana on Sunday will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools in men’s basketball, and also Longwood’s fifth game against a nationally-ranked opponent since the 2004-05 season.
