November 19, 2008

COMPLETE GAME NOTES (PDF)

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University will play its first road game of the season in men's basketball at Big East Conference member West Virginia University Thursday night, November 20, at 7 p.m. in Morgantown.  It will be the Lancers' first-ever game against the Mountaineers as well as their opening game in this year's Findlay Toyota/Las Vegas Invitational.  Longwood (2-1) is coached by sixth-year head coach Mike Gillian, and will be led by 6-1, 205-pound senior captain Ryan Bogan along with 6-5, 225-pound redshirt-junior captain Dana Smith -- each averaging 14.7 points.  West Virginia (1-0) is coached by 27th-year head coach Bob Huggins and is led by 6-6 senior guard Alex Ruoff (19.0 points) and 6-7 junior forward Da'Sean Butler (19.0 points).  The game can be heard locally on Kickin' Country 92.9 FM and on the Internet as well via TEAMLINE.

Series History
Longwood and West Virginia are meeting for the first-time ever in the sport of men's basketball.  The Lancers, however, have played against a Bob Huggins-coached team before as LU lost to then #17 Cincinnati 95-69 on December 30, 2004 in Las Vegas.  The two schools have played each other in other sports in recent years, including baseball (2006, W 9-2), women's basketball (2004-05, L 81-52), and men's soccer (2004, L 3-0).  Longwood is 0-3 all-time against BIG EAST Conference members, including the Cincinnati game, then #4 Villanova (2005-06, L 90-77), and Providence (2006-07, L 107-69).

A Look At West Virginia
West Virginia has a record of 1-0 after a 92-47 home victory past Elon University last Saturday (11.15).  The Mountaineers are coached by 27th-year veteran head coach Bob Huggins (WVU '77; 617-222).  West Virginia finished 26-11 a year ago and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.  WVU is led by returning starters Alex Ruoff (Sr., G, 6-6, 220) and Da'Sean Butler (Jr., F, 6-7, 225), along with returning letterman Wellington Smith (Jr., F, 6-7, 230).  Ruoff and Butler each had 19 points and six steals against Elon, while Smith added 10 points and five rebounds.

A Look At Longwood
Longwood has a record of 2-1 after an 85-84 home victory past Gardner-Webb on Tuesday (11.18).  The Lancers were led by Ryan Bogan who made 1-2 free throws with 5.9-seconds remaining, and junior Kevin Swecker stole the ball with two-seconds left to seal the victory.  Dana Smith finished with a team-high 18 points (9-13 FG), followed by Swecker (14), Bogan (11), junior #E.J. Dawson# (11), and freshman Martiz Washington (11).  Sophomore Durann Neil had a career-high nine assists.  It was arguably one of LU's biggest Division I wins against a program that had won on the road at Kentucky last season, and only lost it's season-opener this year at Virginia Tech by three points (65-62).

The Unkind Road
Longwood has traveled to 24 different states and Washington, D.C. while playing 76 games away from Farmville during the last four years, including 64 true road games (4-60).  The Lancers' favorite states to visit since 2004-05 include North Carolina (7) and Nevada (4) along with the District of Columbia (4).  Longwood's record is 3-9 in the 12 neutral-site games.

Findlay Toyota/Las Vegas Invitational
Longwood will participate in the exempt four-game Findlay Toyota/Las Vegas Invitational November 20-29.  The first two games of the event will be on the road at West Virginia (11.20), and at Kentucky (11.24); before playing two games at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada against Southeast Missouri State (11.28) and either Delaware State or Oakland (11.29).  Also playing in the eight-team tournament are Iowa and Kansas State.  The Lancers are 2-0 in the Orleans Arena with wins past Charleston Southern 73-67 and Kennesaw State 87-85 (OT) during 2006-07.