January 21, 2008
BOX SCORE
DELAND, Fla. – Longwood University dropped a 68-60 men’s basketball decision on the road at Stetson University of the Atlantic Sun Conference Monday night at the Edmunds Center in Deland, Florida. The Lancers (4-18) were led by junior Kirk Williams/White Plains, N.Y. (Woodlands) with a game-high 22 points, while A.J. Smith led the Hatters (9-10) to their 10th-straight home win dating to last season with 18 points. Longwood will play again on Thursday, January 24, at High Point University of the Big South Conference in High Point, North Carolina beginning at 7 p.m..
Stetson jumped ahead early at 9-1 with 17:19 left in the first half on a three-point field goal from Smith. Longwood closed to 9-5 at 16:04 after a pair of baskets inside from Williams before the Hatters extended their advantage to 17-7 with 8:10 on the clock on a jumper from Garfield Blair. The hosts led 28-12 at 3:21 on a three-point play inside from Tim Lang before the Lancers closed the half with an 11-5 run to trail 33-23 at the intermission. Senior Brandon Giles/Gaithersburg, Md. (Magruder) made a three-pointer, while junior Ryan Bogan/Oxford, Pa. (Harcum JC) added his own triple as did freshman Durann Neil/ Pleasantville, N.J. (Leap Academy).
Longwood continued with its momentum to begin the second half as Williams scored six quick points, including a fast-break dunk to close to within 38-31 at 15:25. Stetson, however, responded with a 9-0 run to lead 47-31 with 12:30 remaining. Williams, though, scored six more points during a 7-0 run to make it 47-38 at 9:18 but the Hatters again responded and extended their margin to 58-46 with 3:45 on the clock. The Lancers made one final push and closed to within 60-56 at 1:07 on two free throws by Williams before the hosts secured their home win with 8-10 free throws over the final 1:04.
Williams finished with a game-high 22 points, adding seven rebounds, three assists, and three steals to lead Longwood. Bogan had 11 points, and Neil contributed a career-high eight points off the bench for the Lancers. LU shot 36% (22-61) from the field, including 37% (7-19) on three-point field goals, and 69% (9-13) at the free throw line.
Smith finished with 18 points to lead Stetson, while Blair had 16 points, and Lang added 12 points for the Hatters. SU shot 45% (22-49) from the field, including 40% (6-15) on three-pointers, and 64% (18-28) at the line. The hosts went to the charity stripe 23 times in the second half as the visitors were whistled for 16 personal fouls in the final 20 minutes, including 12 over the final 9:06.
Longwood and Stetson are now tied at 1-1 in the series as the Hatters avenged a 78-76 loss to the Lancers in Farmville last month on December 29.
