February 19, 2007
BOX SCORE
FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood University dropped a disappointing 78-74 men’s basketball decision to visiting New Jersey Tech Monday night in Willett Hall. The Highlanders (5-20) spoiled Senior Night in Farmville as 6-8 Nesho Milosevic posted a double-double with 21 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Senior Maurice Sumter/Alexandria (T.C. Williams) led the Lancers (9-20) with a season-high and game-high 26 points in his final appearance in Willett Hall, increasing his career point total to 1,568 points that rank third all-time at the school. Longwood will play its final two games on the road, beginning on Thursday, February 22, at Campbell University in Buies Creek North Carolina starting at 7 p.m..
Longwood took an early 12-7 lead at 13:28 before NJIT rallied back with a quick 11-2 run to lead 18-14 at 10:09. The Lancers answered with nine-straight points to lead 23-18 at 8:11 as freshman Kevin Swecker/Manchester, Md. (Mount Saint Joseph) scored seven quick points. LU extended the margin to 33-25 with 4:28 left until halftime on a layup by Sumter, and Longwood led 38-34 at the intermission as Sumter scored 10 first-half points. Milosevic tallied 13 points before the break for NJIT.
Longwood again extended its advantage early in the second half, leading 46-38 at 16:24 after a layup from sophomore Kirk Williams/White Plains, N.Y. (Woodlands). NJIT, however, refused to quit and battled back into a 47-47 tie with 14:06 remaining, and took the lead for good at 51-49 and 12:54 left on the clock as Marc Milbourne Swan scored 11 points inside during the 13-3 run. The Highlanders continued their momentum to lead 61-51 at 8:29 on a dunk by Milosevic. The Lancers tried to rally back late, closing to within 64-62 at 3:49 as Williams scored seven quick points, but the visitors secured the road upset with 10-14 free throws over the final 55-seconds.
Sumter finished with a season-high and game-high 26 points to lead Longwood, including 3-4 three-point field goals, adding seven rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block. Williams had 19 points in just 22 minutes off the bench to match his career-high for the Lancers, adding five rebounds, three assists, and two steals. LU shot 39% (24-61) from the field, including 36% (5-14) on three-point field goals, and 70% (21-30) at the free throw line.
Milosevic finished with 21 points and a game-high 10 rebounds to lead NJIT, while Milbourne Swan had 19 points and seven rebounds in only 18 minutes off the bench. Andrew Engel added 15 points for the Highlanders who surpassed their season-high point total by 11 points (67) -- they had averaged just 57 points in 24 previous game. NJIT shot 52% (30-58) from the field, including 30% (3-10) on three-pointers, and 75% (15-20) at the line in earning its second victory past Longwood this season (59-55, Jan. 10).
