January 12, 2009

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University dropped a 94-86 men's basketball decision to visiting Chicago State University Monday night at Willett Hall in Farmville.  Senior David Holston, the nation's third-leading scorer in Division I (26.1), led the Cougars (10-8) with a game-high 32 points for his ninth 30-point game this season while classmate John Cantrell added 27 points.  Junior Kevin Swecker/Manchester, Md. (Mount Saint Joseph) led four players in double-figures for Longwood (7-10) with a career-high 25 points, including 7-9 three-point field goals.  Longwood will play again this Saturday afternoon, January 17, hosting Savannah State University in Farmville beginning at 2 p.m..
   
Longwood and Chicago State, both Division I Independents, played a close first half with nine lead-changes and five ties during the opening 20 minutes.  Junior Billy Robinson Jr./Columbia, Md. (Hammond) got it started with a two-handed slam dunk at 19:41 and the contest went back-and-forth until the midway point of the period.  The Lancers took their largest lead at 23-20 with 12:26 on the clock following consecutive baskets from freshman Antwan Carter/St. Petersburg, Fla. (St. Petersburg).  The hosts took their final lead at 25-24 with 10:00 left in the half on a jumper by Robinson.  The Cougars, though, used a 12-4 run to lead 36-29 at 5:40.  Holston and Cantrell each scored four points during the run and the visitors maintained the advantage at the intermission, leading 46-39 as Cantrell scored 17 first-half points.
   
Chicago State continued its momentum in the second half and expanded the lead to 63-48 with 16:01 remaining as Holston scored eight quick points, including a pair of three-pointers.  Longwood closed to within 66-58 at 13:45 with a 10-3 run led by Swecker's two three-pointers and another dunk from Robinson.  The Cougars responded with a 14-8 run to increase the margin back to 14 points at 80-66 with 7:55 left to play as Holston added seven more points.  The Lancers tried to rally down the stretch after trailing 87-76 at 4:09 following yet another three-pointer from Holston, using a 10-3 run as Swecker added two more of his own three-pointers along with two free throws before junior #E.J. Dawson#/Ft. Belvoir (Mount Vernon) scored on a layup and was fouled at 0:36.4 with the score at 90-86.  He missed the free throw, however, and the visitors secured the win with two free throws and a layup over the final 23.1-seconds.
   
Swecker led Longwood with his career-high 25 points, including 7-9 three-pointers, adding five steals and four assists.  Redshirt-junior Dana Smith/Woodbridge (C.D. Hylton) had 13 points and four assists, while Robinson and Carter each added 12 points for the Lancers.  Robinson also grabbed a career-high nine rebounds, and Carter had five rebounds off the bench.  Dawson finished with six points and a game-high six assists off the bench as well.  LU shot 49% (36-73) from the field, including 54%?(19-35) in the second half, 43% (9-21) on three-pointers, and 56% (5-9) at the line.
   
Holston led Chicago State with his game-high 32 points, including 12-25 from the field (6-15 3FG), adding five assists and a game-high 10 turnovers while scoring 23 points in the second half.  Cantrell finished with 27 points, and sophomore Carl Montgomery had 13 points and a game-high 18 rebounds for the Cougars.  CSU shot 54% (37-69) from the field, including 58%?(18-31) in the second half, 39% (9-23) on three-pointers, and 73% (11-15) at the line. 
   
It was the first-ever meeting between the two schools who will play each other again in Chicago on February 16.