February 18, 2008
BOX SCORE
FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University had five players reach double-figure scoring, led by junior Ryan Bogan/Oxford, Pa. (Harcum JC) with a career-high 21 points, en route to a 96-78 men’s basketball victory past visiting NJIT Monday night at Willett Hall in Farmville. The Lancers (8-22) won their second-straight game, and fourth in the last six games overall, while improving to 6-5 at home this season. The Highlanders (0-28) remain the only winless team in Division I and were led by Kraig Peters with a game-high 26 points. Longwood will play its season finale this Friday night, February 22, hosting nearby rival Liberty University of the Big South Conference at Willett Hall in Farmville on SENIOR NIGHT beginning at 7 p.m..
Longwood took control of the contest in the second half with an 18-6 run sparked by Bogan’s six quick points on a three-point field goal and an old-fashioned three-point play, while sophomore Billy Robinson Jr./Columbia, Md. (Hammond) added four points including a fast-break dunk. The decisive run took the Lancers’ lead from 49-45 at 15:05 to 67-51 at 10:59. LU continued it momentum and built its advantage to as many as 25 points at 84-59 with 5:05 remaining on a jumper from senior Lamar Barrett/Providence, R.I. (St. Andrews) that capped another run of 16-3 led by sophomore Kevin Swecker/Baltimore, Md. (Mount St. Joseph’s) with nine points on a trio of three-pointers. NJIT closed the final margin to under 20 points with the game’s final five points, including the sixth three-pointer of the contest by Peters (6-12).
Longwood took an early 12-2 lead at 14:17 as Barrett scored six points before NJIT closed to within 14-8 at 13:43 on a three-pointer from Peters who scored 16 first-half points, including 4-7 on three-pointers. The Lancers led 19-10 with 12:26 left in the period on a layup by Robinson but the Highlanders were within 26-25 at 7:11 on two free throws from Nesho Milosevic. LU, though, closed the half strong with a 16-9 run led by Bogan and junior Kirk Williams/White Plains, N.Y. (Woodlands) with five points each, including a dunk by Williams, to lead 42-34 at the intermission.
Bogan finished with a career-high 21 points, including 4-6 three-pointers, adding five rebounds and four assists to lead Longwood. Barrett had 18 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and two blocks for the Lancers, followed by Swecker with 17 points (5-6 3FG) off the bench. Williams added 16 points and seven rebounds, and Robinson Jr. contributed 13 points off the bench as well. LU shot 51% (33-65) from the field, including 60% (18-30) in the second half, 57% (12-21) on three-point field goals (69%, 9-13 in the second half), and 82% (18-22) at the free throw line.
Peters finished with a game-high 26 points (6-12 3FG), adding seven rebounds to lead NJIT. Milosevic had 16 points and a game-high 14 rebounds for the Highlanders, and Jheryl Wilson added 13 points off the bench. NJIT shot 38% (29-76) from the field, including 30% (9-30) on three-pointers, and 69% (11-16) at the line.
Longwood evened the all-time series between the two schools at 2-2 with two-straight wins past NJIT after a 78-68 road win in New Jersey two weeks ago (Feb. 4).
