January 19, 2008

BOX SCORE

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Longwood University dropped a 79-67 men’s basketball decision on the road at Savannah State University Saturday afternoon at the Tiger Arena in Savannah, Georgia.  The Lancers (4-17) were led by junior Kirk Williams/White Plains, N.Y. (Woodlands) with a game-high 22 points, while Joseph Flegler led the Tigers (10-14) with 20 points in a battle of Division I Independents.  Longwood will play again on Monday, January 21, at Stetson University of the Atlantic Sun Conference in Deland, Florida beginning at 7 p.m..

Savannah State jumped out to a big lead early against Longwood as Flegler scored his team’s first 11 points en route to a 17-4 advantage at 14:58.  The Lancers fought back with a 14-8 run to pull within 25-18 with 8:06 left in the period as junior Ryan Bogan/Oxford, Pa. (Harcum JC) scored six points with a three-point field goal and sophomore Kevin Swecker/ Baltimore, Md. (Mount St. Joseph) added four points.  The host Tigers, however, closed the half with a 19-6 run that featured three-straight three-pointers from Raye Bailey to lead comfortably at the intermission by a score of 44-24.

Savannah State extended its margin early in the second half and took its largest lead at 55-28 with 14:12 left as five different players scored.  The Tigers still led by 20 points at 64-44 at 8:29 before Longwood finally decided to make a game of it down the stretch.  The Lancers used a 13-4 run to close to within 68-57 with 4:48 on the clock as Williams scored seven consecutive points for the visitors after back-to-back three-pointers from Bogan.  It was a little too late, though, as Savannah State secured the home win as the visitors were no closer than 10 points the rest of the contest (77-67, 0:25).

Williams finished with a game-high 22 points, adding nine rebounds and four assists to lead Longwood.  Bogan had 16 points, and Swecker contributed 13 points off the bench for the Lancers.  LU shot 34% (19-56) from the field, including 39% (7-18) on three-point field goals, and 63% (22-35) at the free throw line.

Flegler finished with 20 points to lead Savannah State, while Lazarius Coleman had a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds.  Bailey also had 18 points for the Tigers.  SSU shot 46% (28-61) from the field, including 50% (9-18) on three-pointers, and 67% (14-21) at the line.

Savannah State now leads the all-time series between the two schools in men’s basketball at 4-1, including three consecutive wins.