December 17, 2007
BOX SCORE
FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University needed overtime en route to a 79-73 men’s basketball home victory past visiting NAIA Virginia Intermont Monday night in Willett Hall. The Lancers (3-10) scored the only six points of the extra period to stop a nine-game winless streak after the Cobras (6-5) had forced OT at 73-73 on a game-tying basket with just 26-seconds left in regulation. Senior Brandon Giles/Gaithersburg, Md. (Magruder) tied his career-high with 21 points, including a career-best six three-point field goals, to lead LU. Longwood will play again on Friday, December 21, at Morgan State University in Baltimore beginning at 7 p.m..
Longwood had rallied at the end of regulation, trailing 69-65 with 2:33 left before an 8-2 run gave the Lancers a 73-71 lead with 46-seconds on the clock. Giles’ sixth three-pointer of the game capped the quick spurt, and followed a three-pointer and a jumper from junior Ryan Bogan/Oxford, Pa. (Harcum JC). Virginia Intermont missed a shot at 0:35, and the Lancers rebounded the ball and called a timeout, seemingly in control. Following the timeout, a Longwood guard was knocked down on the inbounds play and the pass was stolen and turned into a layup by Jamaal Clark with 26-seconds remaining to tie the game at 73-73. The Lancers did have the final shot in regulation but could not convert a floater in the lane at the buzzer.
In the OT, Longwood got a jumper from senior Lamar Barrett/Providence, R.I. (St. Andrews) at 3:29, followed by 1-2 free throws by Barrett at 2:31, another free throw from Giles at 1:55, and a jumper in the paint by junior Kirk Williams/White Plains, N.Y. (Woodlands) at 1:14 to secure the hard-fought home triumph. Giles had converted both of his free throw attempts (@1:55) but had the second make waived off due to a lane violation whistled on a teammate.
Virginia Intermont led 31-27 at halftime as Akeem Price (6-6, 250) scored 12 first-half points, including 3-4 on three-pointers. Longwood scored the first five points of the second half to lead 32-31 at 19:41 as Giles nailed a three-pointer and jumper on back-to-back possessions. The Lancers seemed to finally be pulling away from the Cobras, leading 52-46 with 12:50 left but the visitors battled back with an 18-6 run to lead 64-58 at 8:07 as four different players made three-pointers. LU made its final run in regulation, a 15-7 run started and finished by Giles’ three-pointers, toward the 73-71 advantage with under a minute to play.
Giles matched his career-high with 21 points (6-12 3FG) to lead Longwood, adding four assists. Bogan finished with a career-high of 18 points (4-9 3FG) along with a career-high five assists as well. Barrett had 11 points and 10 rebounds for his third career double-double, also adding five assists, and Williams contributed 11 points. LU shot 45% (31-69) from the field, including 57% (20-35) after halftime, and 36% (11-31) on three-point field goals -- 50% (8-16) after the break -- while shooting 67% (6-9) at the free throw line.
Price finished with game-highs of 28 points (6-12 3FG) and 11 rebounds to lead Virginia Intermont, while Derek Anderson had 14 points, and Courtney White added 11 points for the Cobras. VIC shot 41% (28-68) from the field, including 36% (10-28) on three-pointers, and 64% (7-11) at the line.
