November 29, 2008
BOX SCORE
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Longwood University took a 69-65 men's basketball victory past Delaware State University Saturday for seventh-place during the 2008 Las Vegas Invitational at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Lancers (4-4) were led by redshirt-junior Dana Smith/Woodbridge (C.D. Hylton) with 18 points and eight rebounds, while junior Billy Robinson Jr./Columbia, Md. (Hammond) added season-highs of 15 points and seven rebounds off the bench. The Hornets of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (1-8) were led by Frisco Sandidge with 21 points. Longwood will play again on Wednesday, December 3, hosting James Madison University of the Colonial Athletic Association at Willett Hall in Farmville beginning at 7 p.m..
Longwood started fast against Delaware State and took an early 11-3 lead at 13:17 as Robinson scored five quick points and Smith added four fast points. The Hornets, however, used a 10-2 run to tie the game at 13-13 with 10:27 on the clock after a jumper from Donald Johnson. DSU continued its momentum and led 20-17 at 8:56 on a three-point field goal. The Lancers, though, would finish the first half strong with a 20-9 run that included their largest advantage of the period at 37-27 (00:34) en route to leading 37-29 at the intermission. Robinson (9) and Smith (8) combined for 17 points during the opening 20 minutes.
Longwood increased the lead to 46-33, its largest of the game, at 16:08 before Delaware State once-again fought back to within 46-41 with 13:29 on the clock after eight-straight points – five from Sandidge. The Lancers rallied with six consecutive points to lead 52-41 at 10:33 after a layup by Robinson, but the Hornets made another run to close to within 54-52 with 5:21 left. LU never trailed down the stretch but the contest was tied once at 61-61 with 1:43 remaining after another three-pointer from Johnson. Smith's layup at 1:17 put Longwood in front for good, and he followed with a jumper at 00:52 before Robinson and sophomore Kevin Swecker/Manchester, Md. (Mount Saint Joseph) each converted two throws over the final 19-seconds.
Smith finished with 18 points, eight rebounds, and four assists to lead Longwood. Robinson had 15 points and seven rebounds for the Lancers, and Swecker added 10 points and five assists. Freshman Antwan Carter/St. Petersburg, Fla. (St. Petersburg) contributed eight points and nine rebounds. LU shot 42% (27-64) from the field, including 20% (4-20) on three-point field goals, and 58% (11-19) at the free throw line.
Sandidge finished with 21 points to lead Delaware State. Johnson had 15 points for the Hornets, while Arturo Dubois added 13 points and 21 rebounds. DSU also shot 42% (24-57) from the field, including 24% (4-17) on three-pointers, and 68% (13-19) at the line.
It was the first-ever meeting between Longwood and Delaware State in men's basketball. The Lancers' 4-4 start to the season is also the program's best since playing the full Division I schedule in 2004-05, and best overall since 2002-03.
