November 24, 2007
BOX SCORE
HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. – Longwood University dropped an 82-78 men’s basketball decision to Southeast Missouri State Saturday afternoon during the seventh-place game of the Chicago Invitational Challenge at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The Lancers (2-5) were led by senior Brandon Giles/Gaithersburg, Md. (Magruder) with 15 points. The Redhawks (3-3) were led by Roderick Pearson with 22 points. Longwood will play again on Tuesday, November 27, at nearby rival Liberty University in Lynchburg at the Vines Center beginning at 7 p.m..
Longwood and SEMO of the Ohio Valley Conference each started slowly as the temperature inside the facility was almost as cold as the outside temperature of mid-30s. The Lancers led 9-8 at the second media timeout (11:53) as senior Lamar Barrett/Providence, R.I. (St. Andrews) scored four points. LU still led 19-18 at 6:35 after a pair of free throws by the Redhawks. Longwood, though, took advantage of a 15-7 run to lead 34-25 with just 2:07 left until halftime as redshirt-junior Dana Smith/Woodbridge (C.D. Hylton) tallied six quick points. The Lancers remained in control over the final two minutes of the period and led 39-29 at the intermission.
Southeast Missouri State quickly turned things around to start the second half, using a 28-6 run to lead 57-45 at 11:19. The run was sparked by Oklahoma transfer Brandon Foust who scored 10 points during the run. The Redhawks took their largest lead at 61-48 with 9:06 remaining before Longwood finally got going again and began another comeback attempt. Ann 11-2 run over the next 3:02 had the Lancers within 63-59 at 6:04 on a jumper from Giles who scored seven of the points, including a three-point field goal. It was nip-and-tuck the rest of the way as LU was within one-point on three occasions down the stretch (73-72, 1:56; 75-74, 1:25; 77-76, 0:50). Pearson, however, nailed a three-pointer with 28-seconds left and SEMO followed with a layup to lead 82-76 with just seven-seconds remaining to secure the outcome. Giles provided the final margin with another jumper at 0:02.
Giles finished with 15 points to lead Longwood, including 3-5 three-pointers, adding four assists. Junior Kirk Williams/White Plains, N.Y. (Woodlands) had 14 points and seven rebounds, while classmate Ryan Bogan/Oxford, Pa. (Harcum JC) had 13 points and seven rebounds off the bench for the Lancers. Smith finished with 12 points, three assists, and three steals, and Barrett contributed 10 points, five rebounds, and five steals. LU shot 44% (27-62) from the field, including 40% (8-20) on three-point field goals, and only 59% (16-27) at the free throw line. Longwood did out-rebound the taller opponents 35-33, including 16 boards at the offensive end.
Pearson finished with 22 points to lead Southeast Missouri State, including 7-8 free throws, adding five assists. Foust (8-10 FG) had 19 points, while Tennessee-Chattanooga transfer Jaycen Herring (6-8 FG) added 15 points for the Redhawks. SEMO shot 54% (28-52) from the field, including 70% (21-30) in the second half, making 50% (5-10) on three-pointers, and 72% (21-29) at the line.
It was the first-ever meeting between Longwood and Southeast Missouri State in men’s basketball.
