February 3, 2007
BOX SCORE
FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood University junior Brandon Giles/Gaithersburg, Md. (Magruder) made a 12-foot floater in the lane with three-tenths of a second remaining as Longwood defeated Morgan State University 75-73 in men’s basketball Saturday afternoon in Willett Hall. The Lancers (8-17) rallied from a 10-point deficit (59-49, 9:06) for the exciting come-from-behind home triumph, and were led by senior Clayton Morgan/Brooklyn, N.Y. (Fashion Institute) with 20 points and nine rebounds. The Bears (8-12) had their four-game winning streak stopped, and were led by Ronald Timus with a game-high 27 points. Longwood will play again on Tuesday, February 6, hosting Sun Belt Conference member Florida Atlantic University beginning at 8 p.m. in Willett Hall.
Longwood trailed 59-49 with 9:06 remaining before a 16-6 run tied the contest at 65-65 with 4:33 left as junior Lamar Barrett/Providence, R.I. (St. Andrews) made a pair of free throws. Morgan and senior Maurice Sumter/Alexandria (T.C. Williams) each scored five points during the run to tie the score. Morgan State went ahead 67-65 at 4:07 on a pair of free throws by Jerrel Green before a personal foul and subsequent technical foul on Bear Joseph McLean put the Lancers at the line for four free throws at 3:51. Giles made one of two, and Sumter made two for a 68-67 lead for the hosts. MSU went back in front 69-68 at 3:09 on a pair of free throws by Boubacar Coly, but Giles answered with a 10-foot floater in the lane for a 70-69 lead at 2:39. The visitors led 73-71 at 1:06 after a jumper from Jamar Smith (2:09) and a layup by Coly sandwiched around 1-2 free throws by Morgan (1:47). Sumter tied the contest at 73-73 with 45-seconds remaining when he rebounded his own miss and scored near the basket. Longwood forced a turnover at 0:25 before Giles’ game-winner just ahead of the final buzzer.
Morgan State had built a 39-29 lead at the intermission as Timus scored 13 first-half points and the Bears shot 52% (15-29) from the field. The visitors took their largest lead of the contest at 35-23 with 3:34 left before the break on a three-point field goal from McLean. Longwood stayed close during the first half as sophomore Kirk Williams/White Plains, N.Y. (Woodlands) scored 11 first-half points, and Morgan tallied nine points before halftime. The Lancers had led early at 9-3 (15:24) before MSU used a 21-7 run to lead 24-16 at 8:37. The hosts were within 24-20 at 7:06 before the visitors 11-3 run pushed their lead to 12 points (35-23) en route to the 10-point lead at halftime.
Morgan finished with 20 points and nine rebounds to lead Longwood, adding three assists and two steals. Williams added a career-high 19 points along with three assists for the Lancers, while Sumter had 13 points -- all in the second half -- with seven rebounds and three steals. Giles contributed seven points and five assists, including the two late baskets -- the final one the decisive game-winner. LU shot 49% (26-53) from the field, including 54% (15-28) in the second half, 33% (2-6) on three-point field goals, and 78% (21-27) at the free throw line.
Timus scored a game-high 27 points (10-18 FG) to lead Morgan State, while Smith added 21 points off the bench for the Bears. Green finished with 10 points and six assists. MSU shot 45% (24-53) from the field, including 29% (2-7) on three-pointers, and 79% (23-29) at the line. Morgan State had won four-straight games prior to today, and six of its last eight, and are coached by Todd Bozeman who last served as a head coach at the University of California-Berkeley (1992-96, 63-35).
