January 15, 2008
BOX SCORE
FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood University dropped an 82-80 men’s basketball decision to visiting Campbell University Tuesday night at Willett Hall in Farmville. The Lancers (4-16) were led by sophomore Kevin Swecker/Baltimore, Md. (Mount Saint Joseph) with a game-high 22 points, while the Fighting Camels (7-9) were led by Kyle Vejraska with 16 points; one of six CU players with double-figure points. Longwood will play again on Saturday, January 19, at Savannah State University in Georgia beginning at 2 p.m..
Campbell led 49-41 at halftime in a contest delayed over an hour while awaiting the arrival of game officials. The Fighting Camels came out fast once the contest did begin, making five three-point field goals during the first 5:11 to lead 22-14 as Reggie Bishop made three quick three-pointers. Longwood battled back with five three-point field goals of its own to close to within 29-27 at 9:49 as Swecker and junior Ryan Bogan/Oxford, Pa. (Harcum JC) each made two. Campbell used an 18-5 run to expand its advantage to 47-32 with just 2:44 left in the period before the Lancers again fought back with a 9-2 run to close the half and trailed by just eight at the intermission.
Longwood outscored Campbell 13-5 to open the second half and took a 54-53 lead at 16:01 as Swecker buried two more three-pointers, while senior Brandon Giles/Gaithersburg, Md. (Magruder) added his own three-pointer before a layup from junior Kirk Williams/White Plains, N.Y. (Woodlands) closed the early run. The contest went back and forth before the Lancers took what would be their final lead at 66-63 with 10:11 remaining on a three-pointer from freshman Durann Neil/Pleasantville, N.J. (Leap Academy). The Fighting Camels tied it at 66-66 on another three-pointer from Bishop at 9:42, and the visitors maintained a narrow margin the rest of the way. Campbell’s biggest lead down the stretch was 73-67 with 5:52 on the clock after a three-point play inside from Jonathan Rodriguez. Longwood was within 77-75 at 1:01 on a three-pointer from , and it was 79-78 with 25-seconds left after another three-pointer by Swecker. Julius Perkins made 1-2 free throws for CU at 0:22 for an 80-78 lead but the hosts missed both a long three-point attempt and the following putback off the offensive rebound before Rodriguez made two free throws at 0:08 (82-78). Bogan was fouled on a late three-point attempt with 2.6-seconds left, a shot that almost went in, and he made the first two free throws (82-80) before missing the third intentionally but LU could not get the rebound.
Swecker finished with a game-high 22 points to lead Longwood, including a career-best six three-pointers (6-10), while Williams had 19 points while limited with foul trouble before fouling out late (0:22) for the Lancers. Giles added 15 points, including five three-pointers (5-13), and Bogan contributed eight points and seven rebounds. LU shot 40% (30-75) from the field, including 40% (16-40) on three-point field goals, and 57% (4-7) at the free throw line. It was a season-high for three-pointers (16), and a new team record for three-point attempts (40) in a game.
Vejraska finished with 16 points to lead Campbell, followed by Bishop (15), Rodriguez (14), Preston Dodson (12), Perkins (10), and Jake Wohlfeil (10). CU shot 56% (25-45) from the field, including 53% (8-15) on three-pointers, and 86% (24-28) at the line.
