February 4, 2008
BOX SCORE
NEWARK, N.J. -- Longwood University led 41-22 at halftime, and made 13-18 free throws over the final 2:56 en route to a 78-68 men's basketball road victory at NJIT Monday night at the Fleisher Athletic Center in Newark, New Jersey. The Lancers (6-20) won their second-straight game while stopping a 30-game road losing streak dating to November of 2006 (Norfolk State, W 65-54) and were led by junior Kirk Williams/White Plains, N.Y. (Woodlands) with a game-high 19 points along with a career-high 12 rebounds; junior Ryan Bogan/Oxford, Pa. (Harcum JC) added 12 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. The Highlanders (0-24) were led by Kraig Peters and Kyle Edwards with 16 points each. Longwood will play again this Saturday, February 9, hosting Savannah State University at Willett Hall in Farmville beginning at 2 p.m..
Longwood had control most of the night at NJIT, taking the lead for good at 16:49 of the first half on a three-point field goal by senior Lamar Barrett/Providence, R.I. (St. Andrews) for an early 7-4 advantage. The Lancers led 13-4 with 14:10 left in the first half as Williams (6) and Barrett (5) combined for 11 quick points. The Highlanders closed to 13-10 at 10:34 as Edwards scored inside on consecutive possessions. The visitors led just 19-15 after a three-pointer by the hosts at 7:25 but LU outscored NJIT 22-7 to close the period and take a 41-22 lead at the intermission. Bogan and freshman Durann Neil/Pleasantville, N.J. (Leap Academy) fueled the run with eight points each as Neil’s came during the final 1:48, including two three-pointers.
NJIT closed to 42-27 at the start of the second half with 19:14 remaining but Longwood responded quickly and extended its lead to 54-31 at 15:12 after a 12-4 run. Williams had a monster offensive rebound follow dunk and a three-pointer, while Barrett had a three-pointer as well. The Lancers maintained the comfortable margin for several minutes and still led 63-43 with 8:06 left on the clock after another three-pointer by Williams. The Highlanders, however, refused to quit and fought back with 11 unanswered points to trail just 63-54 at 5:09 as the visitors turned the ball over five times during a 1:18 span and the hosts made a couple of three-pointers. Williams added a layup at 4:20 to make it 65-54, and LU made 13-18 free throws over the final 2:56, including 6-6 from senior Brandon Giles/Gaithersburg, Md. (Magruder), to secure the road triumph. NJIT was within 70-62 at 0:57 but got no closer than that.
Williams finished with 19 points and a career-high 12 rebounds to lead Longwood, earning his third double-double this season. Bogan had 12 points and a career-high 13 rebounds for his first career double-double, adding four assists for the Lancers. Barrett and Neil each scored 10 points, while sophomore Beno Jaekel/Jussara, Brazil (Western Nebraska CC) contributed a career-high eight points, and Giles had six points. LU shot 41% (22-54) from the field, including 45% (9-20) on three-point field goals, and 74% (25-34) at the free throw line.
Peters and Edwards each finished with 16 points to lead NJIT, while Nesho Milosevic added 14 points for the Highlanders. NJIT shot 36% (22-62) from the field, including 18% (5-28) on three-pointers, and 66% (19-29) at the line. The Highlanders scored 23 points off 21 turnovers.
Longwood out-rebounded NJIT 51-32 in a game that witnessed 51 total fouls and 63 total free throw attempts between the two teams. The Lancers had three players disqualified for fouls, while the Highlanders had two players disqualified. Longwood won its first game against NJIT in three attempts as the Highlanders won both games played last season (59-55, 78-74). The two schools will meet again February 18 in Virginia.
