January 5, 2008

BOX SCORE

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Longwood University dropped a 73-55 men’s basketball decision on the road at Navy Saturday night at Alumni Hall in Annapolis, Maryland. The Lancers (4-14) and Midshipmen (7-8) were tied 23-23 at halftime before the hosts outscored the visitors 50-32 in the decisive second half. Sophomore Kevin Swecker/Baltimore, Md. (Mount St. Joseph) led LU with 19 points, while Greg Sprink led Navy with a game-high 21 points, including 10-11 free throws. Longwood will play again on Tuesday, January 8, hosting Yale University of the Ivy League at Willett Hall in Farmville beginning at 7 p.m..

At Navy of the Patriot League in easily the worst officiated contest of the season, the Midshipmen took an early 8-2 advantage at 16:10 as Sprink and Kaleo Kina each scored four quick points. Swecker’s three-point field goal at 12:51 made it 8-5, and he followed with another three-pointer at 9:25 to make it 10-8 as both teams struggled offensively in the first half. The Lancers were within 14-12 with 6:14 left until halftime after 1-2 free throws from senior Danny Wilson/Pantego, N.C. (Louisburg JC). Navy, though, used a 7-2 run to lead 21-14 at 2:55 as Sprink scored four more points. Longwood, however, battled back with a 9-2 run to close the period and gain the 23-23 deadlock at the intermission as Wilson scored four points and Swecker added five points, including another three-pointer. The two teams combined to shoot just 28% (15-53) from the field during the opening 20 minutes, including 30% (6-20) on three-pointers.

Navy took control of the game during the first 7:03 of the second half, outscoring Longwood 25-7 to lead comfortably at 48-30 with 12:57 on the clock. Sprink scored nine of the points, including a three-pointer, and Chris Harris added 10 points with a pair of three-pointers. The Lancers tried to climb back into the game, and managed to close to within 52-41 with 9:30 remaining after an 11-4 run but could get no closer. Junior Kirk Williams/White Plains, N.Y. (Woodlands) scored seven points during the quick run. LU was within 13 points on three occasions down the stretch as Navy made 9-14 free throws over the final 4:36 to provide for the final margin, including 5-6 by Harris and 4-4 by Sprink.

Swecker finished with 19 points, including 4-8 three-pointers, adding six rebounds to lead Longwood. Junior Ryan Bogan/Oxford, Pa. (Harcum JC) had 12 points and six rebounds, Williams contributed a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds, and Wilson finished with seven points and seven rebounds for the Lancers. LU shot 26% (17-65) from the field, including 33% (7-21) on three-point field goals, and 70% (14-20) at the free throw line. The visitors were whistled for 25 personal fouls, including a technical foul for hanging onto the net.

Sprink finished with his own game-high double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead Navy. Kina had 18 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, while Harris had 18 points and five assists for the Midshipmen. Navy shot 37% (21-57) from the field, including 50% (14-28) in the second half, making 33% (7-21) on three-pointers, and 75% (24-32) at the line, including 17-23 (74%) in the second half. The Midshipmen out-rebounded Longwood 53-41 as Romeo Garcia added 10 rebounds for the hosts.

Navy now leads the all-time series between the two schools in men’s basketball at 5-0.