December 2, 2008

COMPLETE GAME NOTES (PDF)

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University will host in-state opponent and Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) member James Madison University in men's basketball Wednesday night, December 3, at 7 p.m. in Willett Hall (1,807) on-campus in Farmville.  The Lancers and Dukes have met three of the past four seasons with LU winning on its floor (77-73) and JMU winning on its court (72-70, 84-52).  Longwood (4-4) is coached by sixth-year head coach Mike Gillian, and will be led by 6-5, 225-pound redshirt-junior guard/forward Dana Smith who is averaging 16.5 points and 6.9 rebounds.  James Madison (4-2) is coached by first-year head coach Matt Brady and is led by 6-5 freshman forward Julius Wells (13.5 points, 4.5 rebounds).  Tickets do remain and will be available at the Willett Hall Ticket Window, or by calling 434.395.2138.

Series History
Longwood and James Madison are meeting for the fourth time in the sport of men's basketball since 2005 as the Dukes lead the young series at 2-1.  JMU won the first meeting in Harrisonburg (2.21.05) by a score of 72-70 as a three-point field goal and 1-2 free throws over the final 41-seconds rallied the hosts from a late deficit.  The Lancers won the second meeting in Farmville (2.18.06) by a score of 77-73 as a three-pointer gave LU the lead for good with 3:01 remaining while securing the win with 6-8 late free throws.  JMU won again last year in Harrisonburg (12.5.07) by a score of 84-52 in a game that the Dukes led 46-26 at halftime.  Abdulai Jalloh is the top returning scorer from that contest with 23 points, while Jeffrey Ryan was tops among Longwood's returning players with seven points.

A Look At James Madison
James Madison has a record of 4-2 after its second-straight win, and fourth in five games, a 73-53 road decision at Fordham on Sunday (11.30) as senior Kyle Swanston came off the bench to score 21 points (5-9 3FG).  The Dukes are coached by first-year head coach Matt Brady (4-1 / 77-51).  JMU is led by freshman Julius Wells (13.5 points, 4.5 rebounds) and Swanston (12.0 points, 18-42 3FG), along with freshmen Andrey Semenov (9.7 points, 4.7 rebounds) and Devon Moore (9.5 points, 3.7 rebounds).

A Look At Longwood
Longwood has a record of 4-4 after its 69-65 neutral-site win past Delaware State last Saturday (11.29) for seventh-place in the Las Vegas Invitational, its best start to a season since first playing a full Division I schedule in 2004-05, and best overall since 2002-03.  The Lancers played their first eight games in 15 days to open this season, including three road games and two neutral-site games in Las Vegas.  Longwood is led by redshirt-junior Dana Smith (16.5 points, 6.9 rebounds), senior Ryan Bogan (13.0 points, 16-49 3FG, 3.9 rebounds), and junior Kevin Swecker (9.4 points).

Head Coach Mike Gillian
Mike Gillian (North Adams State '86) was named the seventh head coach for men's basketball at Longwood on May 2, 2003.  Prior to his arrival, he had been an assistant coach for Jim Larranaga at George Mason for six years (1997-2003) after a year with Coach Larranaga at Bowling Green State (1996-97).  A native of Ayer, Massachusetts, Coach Gillian is 38-120 at Longwood, including 4-4 this year after consecutive 9-22 seasons, those following a record of 10-20 three years ago during 2005-06 that tied for the seventh-best turnaround season in Division I that year.

Playing The Commonwealth
Longwood has played 11 of the other 13 Division I schools located within the Commonwealth of Virginia since 2003-04.  They include Hampton, James Madison, Liberty, Norfolk State, Old Dominion, Radford, Richmond, Virginia, VCU, VMI, along with William and Mary.  The Lancers will add #12 to the list this year when they travel to Blacksburg to play Virginia Tech on December 14.  The only other Virginia school that has not been scheduled previously is George Mason.  However, Longwood has scrimmaged against the Patriots during preseason on two occasions, including just prior to the start of 2006-07 when George Mason made its remarkable run to the NCAA Final Four.

Team Captains
Ryan Bogan and Dana Smith were named team captains by head coach Mike Gillian for 2008-09, the first year that each is serving in this team leadership role.  Bogan is a second-year team member after transferring from Harcum College in Philadelphia.  Smith is a fifth-year team member who has been granted two medical hardship waivers for consecutive knee injuries each of the past two seasons.

A True Inspiration & Team Leader
Dana Smith has junior-eligibility after being granted medical hardship waivers following each of the past two seasons for knee injuries.  He has started 40 of 81 career games, including 34 consecutive games around the two season-ending injuries over the past three years.  Smith is averaging a team-best 16.5 points (59%?FG) and 6.9 rebounds, and was named to the Las Vegas Invitational All-Tournament Team after averaging 19.8 points and 6.8 rebounds in the four games against West Virginia (11.20, 17 points), Kentucky (11.24, 18 points), Southeast Missouri State (11.28, 26 points), and Delaware State (11.29, 18 points).  He ranks 52nd nationally in Division I field goal percentage (59.1, 55-93), and leads the team in 12 statistical categories this season.  Smith totals 648 career points and 340 career rebounds, including career-highs of 26 points and 11 rebounds this year.  He has already earned a bachelor of science degree in sociology from Longwood (May 2008), and is now working toward his second degree in business marketing.  Smith's first collegiate knee injury occurred at Norfolk State (11.15.06 - right knee), and the second was at, ironically, James Madison (12.5.07 - left knee) after which he underwent successful reconstructive surgery (12.27.07); it was his third knee injury in five years, including one as a high school senior.

Home Sweet Home
Longwood is now 23-16 at home in Willett Hall over the past three-plus years, including 2-1 this year following a 7-5 record in Farmville during 2007-08.  The Lancers were 8-4 at the facility during 2005-06 before finishing with a record of 6-6 at home during 2006-07.  Through the first three home games this year, attendance has averaged 1,216 in the 1,807-seat venue while the student section of the facility has been at capacity each contest.

For more game notes and statistical information, please download the PDF linked above ...