January 11, 2009
COMPLETE GAME NOTES (PDF)
FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University will open a six-game homestand in men's basketball on Monday night, January 12, against fellow Independent Chicago State University at 7 p.m. in Willett Hall (1,807) on-campus in Farmville. The Lancers and Cougars are meeting for the first-time ever. Longwood (7-9) is coached by sixth-year head coach Mike Gillian, and is led by 6-5, 225-pound redshirt-junior guard/forward Dana Smith who is averaging 15.4 points and 5.9 rebounds. Chicago State (9-8) is coached by second-year head coach Benjy Taylor, and is led by 5-8 senior guard David Holston, the nation's third-leading scorer with his 26.1 points. The Lancers are anxious to play in front of their fellow students for the first time since December 3, a 79-76 victory past James Madison University in front of a season-high crowd of 1,603.
Series History
Longwood and Chicago State are meeting for the first-time ever in the sport of men's basketball.
A Look At Chicago State
Chicago State has a record of 9-8 after its 115-96 road win at winless North Carolina Central (0-18) on Saturday (1.10). The Cougars are coached by second-year head coach Benjy Taylor (Richmond '89), and led by seniors David Holston (26.1 points, 84 3FG, 5.7 assists) and John Cantrell (17.6 points, 5.1 rebounds). The third-leading scorer in Division I, Holston has posted eight 30-point games, including a season-high 40 points against Campbell (12.29). Also expected in the starting lineup are seniors Mike Wilson (6.9 points) and Tawrence Walton (7.2 points), along with sophomore Carl Montgomery (9.9 points, 7.2 rebounds).
A Look At Longwood
Longwood has a record of 7-9 after its 95-69 road loss at Florida on Tuesday (1.6). The Lancers are enjoying their best start to a season since first playing a Division I schedule in 2004-05, and best overall since 2002-03. Longwood is led by redshirt-junior Dana Smith (15.4 points, 5.9 rebounds) and senior Ryan Bogan (13.8 points, 32 3FG). Also expected in the starting lineup are junior Kevin Swecker (8.8 points), sophomore Durann Neil (6.8 points, 3.4 assists), and freshman Antwan Carter (7.3 points, 5.3 rebounds).
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 41-125 at Longwood, including 7-9 this year following back-to-back 9-22 seasons, those efforts after a record of 10-20 three years ago (2005-06) that tied for Division I's seventh-best turnaround season that year.
The Ratings Game
Longwood has an average rating of 254 among the 347 schools playing Division I men's basketball, its highest-ever average among the following six rating services: CBS Sportsline RPI, the CollegeRPI.com, Ken Pomeroy's College Basketball RPI, RealTimeRPI.com, RPIRatings.com, and the Sagarin Ratings. The average rating for Chicago State is 219 (+35). In last week's NCAA RPI, the Lancers were at 249 and the Cougars were at 235 (+14).
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 important team leadership role. Smith is a fifth-year team member, and Bogan is a second-year team member after his transfer from Harcum College in Philadelphia.
Home Sweet Home
Longwood is 26-16 (.619) at home in Willett Hall over the past three-plus years, including 5-1 this year following a 7-5 record in Farmville during 2007-08. The Lancers were 8-4 at home during 2005-06 before finishing with a record of 6-6 during 2006-07. Longwood is averaging 1,079 in overall home attendance this year, including 1,313 over the four games with students here.
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