November 14, 2008

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University opened its 2008-09 men's basketball season with an 87-44 home victory past visiting NAIA Virginia-Wise Friday night in Willett Hall on-campus in Farmville.  The Lancers (1-0) led 42-18 at halftime and placed four players in double-figure scoring, led by freshman Martiz Washington/Hopewell (Christchurch) with a game-high 15 points off the bench in his first collegiate contest.  The Highland Cavaliers (0-4) were led by Kevin Perry with 10 points.  Longwood will play again on Sunday night, November 16, hosting Norfolk State University of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in Farmville at 7 p.m. in Willett Hall.
   
Longwood took control from the beginning against Virginia-Wise, jumping ahead 14-4 at 16:02 as senior Ryan Bogan/Oxford, Pa. (Harcum JC) scored eight quick points with consecutive three-point field goals and a jumper.  The Lancers extended the advantage to 24-10 at 8:27 on a layup from junior Billy Robinson Jr./Columbia, Md. (Hammond) that closed a 10-3 run by the hosts.  The Highland Cavaliers closed to within 26-18 at 6:01 before LU closed the first half with a 16-0 blitz over the final 5:38 as six different players scored, including six points from sophomore Durann Neil/Pleasantville, N.J. (Leap Academy), for the commanding 42-18 lead at the intermission.
   
Longwood continued its run to start the second half, outscoring Wise 26-4 during the first 8:12 of the period to lead 68-22 with 11:48 remaining.  Redshirt-junior Dana Smith/Woodbridge (C.D. Hylton) scored the first six points of the half, while Washington scored 10 points in a dizzying 1:24 with two three-pointers, a steal and layup, and another jumper while Bogan finished the run with another three-pointer for the largest margin of the night (46 points).  Junior #E.J. Dawson#/Ft. Belvoir (Mount Vernon) had a crowd-pleasing steal and dunk during the onslaught as well.  The lead was never below 40 points over the final 3:59 for the home team as everyone played and scored in the contest witnessed by 1,314.
   
Washington led Longwood with his game-high 15 points, adding six rebounds and two steals in 18 minutes.  Neil added 14 points, five rebounds, and two steals for the Lancers.  Others included Bogan with 13 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals, while Smith had 10 points, eight rebounds, a career-high five blocks, and two assists.  Junior Kevin Swecker/Manchester, Md. (Mount Saint Joseph) finished with nine points and five assists, Robinson Jr. had six points and seven rebounds, Dawson had six points and five assists, and freshman Antwan Carter/St. Petersburg, Fla. (St. Petersburg) had six points and nine rebounds.  LU shot 44% (32-73) from the field, including 30% (9-30) on three-pointers, and 56% (14-25) at the free throw line.  The Lancers took a 53-41 rebounding advantage and only had eight turnovers while forcing 21 miscues.
   
Perry led Virginia-Wise with 10 points and nine rebounds, while Patrick Fisher had nine points, and Josh Jordan finished with eight points and six rebounds.  V-W shot just 27% (15-56) from the field, including 14% (2-14) on three-pointers, and 52% (12-23) at the line.
   
Longwood now leads the all-time series against the Highland Cavaliers at 8-1 with eight-straight wins, including four in a row over the past four seasons.