January 17, 2009

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University led for the final 27:04 en route to an 86-76 home victory past visiting Savannah State University Saturday afternoon at Willett Hall in Farmville.  Senior Ryan Bogan/Oxford, Pa. (Harcum JC) scored a career-high and game-high 25 points to lead four players in double-figure scoring for the host Lancers who improved to 8-10.  Anthony Jones led the Tigers (9-9) with 21 points in a contest between two NCAA Division I Independent schools.  Longwood, enjoying its finest Division I start and best overall since 2002-03, will play again on Wednesday, January 21, hosting Southern Virginia University at Willett Hall in Farmville beginning at 7 p.m..
   
Savannah State got on the scoreboard first with a three-point play by Jovonni Shuler at 19:40 as the closely-played first half would feature nine lead-changes and five ties.  Longwood took its first lead at 6-5 with 18:20 on the clock after a pair of free throws from redshirt-junior Dana Smith/Woodbridge (C.D. Hylton).  The Tigers took their largest lead of the opening period at 23-19 with 10:36 left on a three-point field goal by Chris Linton.  The Lancers, however, took control of the contest with a 17-4 run to lead 36-27 at 2:35 as five different players scored points during the run.  LU led 41-36 at the intermission behind Bogan's 12 first-half points while forcing 18 turnovers by SSU as well.
   
Longwood scored the first six points of the second half to open a 47-36 advantage at 18:30 as Smith, junior Kevin Swecker/Manchester, Md. (Mount Saint Joseph) and Bogan each scored.  The Lancers still led 57-48 at 10:49 as five different players scored points again for the hosts.  Savannah State tried to rally back and closed to within 70-65 at 4:04 on a layup from Jones.  LU, though, responded with a 7-2 run to lead 77-67 at 2:46 as Bogan scored five quick points.  The visitors made a final effort and were within 77-73 at 1:41 before Longwood secured the home triumph 9-1 run began by a three-pointer from Swecker at 1:27 to lead 86-74 toward the final 10-point margin of victory (86-76).
   
Bogan led Longwood with his game-high and career-high 25 points, adding a career-high six steals along with five rebounds and four assists as well.  Swecker finished with 19 points, and Smith added 15 points, seven rebounds, and four steals for the Lancers.  Junior Billy Robinson Jr./Columbia, Md. (Hammond) contributed 11 points and a game-high eight rebounds, while sophomore Durann Neil/Pleasantville, N.J. (Leap Academy) dished out a game-high six assists to go with his five points.  LU shot 52% (31-60) from the field, including 33% (5-15) on three-pointers, and 68% (19-28) at the line.  The Lancers, seventh in Division I turnover margin, forced 27 turnovers converted into 32 points.
   
Jones led Savannah State with his 21 points, while Tracy Rankins added 12 points off the bench.  Shuler finished with 11 points for the Tigers.  SSU shot 58% (30-52) from the field, including 25% (2-8) on three-pointers, and 67% (14-21) at the line.
   
Longwood stopped a two-game skid this season while also ending a four-game skid to Savannah State as the Tigers still have a 5-2 lead in the overall series that began in January, 2006.  The two schools will meet again next month on February 7 in Georgia.