January 2, 2009

COMPLETE GAME NOTES (PDF)

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University will host Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10) member George Washington University in men's basketball Saturday night, January 3, at 7 p.m. in Willett Hall (1,807) on-campus in Farmville.  The Lancers and Colonials have met each of the past two seasons in Washington, D.C. with GW winning 63-54 last year, and 74-60 two years ago.  Longwood (6-8) is coached by sixth-year head coach Mike Gillian, and will be led by 6-5, 225-pound redshirt-junior guard/forward Dana Smith who is averaging 15.7 points and 6.1 rebounds.  George Washington (6-5), the highest profile opponent to ever visit Farmville, is coached by eighth-year head coach Karl Hobbs and is led by 6-9 senior forward Rob Diggs (11.5 points, 7.8 rebounds).  It's "Community Night" in Willett Hall on Saturday with FREE admission for all youth ages 13 and under.

Series History
Longwood and George Washington are meeting for the third time in three years as the Colonials lead the series at 2-0.  GW won last season in Washington, D.C. (12.23.07) by a score of 63-54 as Damian Hollis had 11 points and a game-high 11 rebounds as well for a double-double, while Ryan Bogan was tops among Longwood's returning players with 12 points.  Two years ago (11.17.06), George Washington also won in D.C. by a score of 74-60 as Rob Diggs posted a double-double of 22 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

A Look At George Washington
George Washington has a record of 6-5 after a 59-53 loss to Coppin State on Tuesday (12.30) in Hawaii, its third-straight loss at the Rainbow Classic in Honolulu.  The Colonials are led by senior Rob Diggs who averages 11.5 points and 7.8 rebounds, along with junior Damian Hollis (11.4 points) and senior Noel Wilmore (9.3 points) who plays off the bench.  Also expected in the starting lineup are sophomores Travis King (6.1 points) and Joseph Katuka (3.9 points), along with freshman Tony Taylor (7.4 points, 3.2 assists).

A Look At Longwood
Longwood has a record of 6-8 after its 81-80 road loss at Navy on Tuesday (12.30).  The Lancers are still enjoying their best start to a season since first playing a full Division I schedule in 2004-05, and best overall since 2002-03.  Longwood is led by redshirt-junior Dana Smith with his averages of 15.7 points and 6.1 rebounds, senior Ryan Bogan who averages 14.2 points and 4.4 rebounds, and junior Kevin Swecker with his 8.5 points per game.  Also expected in the starting lineup are sophomore Durann Neil (7.2 points, 3.2 assists) and freshman Antwan Carter (6.6 points, 5.5 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 40-124 at Longwood, including 6-8 this year after back-to-back 9-22 seasons, those efforts following a record of 10-20 three years ago during 2005-06 that tied for Division I's seventh-best turnaround season that year.

Playing High-Profile Opponents
Longwood has played five nationally-ranked teams since its first full Division I schedule in 2004-05.  That first year was brutal with games at #1 Illinois, #6 Wake Forest, and against #17 Cincinnati in Las Vegas.  The Lancers played #4 Villanova in Atlantic City during 2005-06, and were at #8 Indiana last year.  Longwood has also competed against such historic and storied college basketball programs as Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Providence, and San Francisco; and nationally prominent programs at Boston College, George Washington, Kansas State, Kent State, Louisiana Tech, Navy, Nebraska, New Mexico, Northern Iowa, Oklahoma, and Southern California.

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 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 prior to last season.

A True Inspiration & Team Leader
Dana Smith has junior-eligibility after being granted medical hardship waivers following each of the past two seasons for knee injuries.  He has started 46 of 87 career games, including 40-straight games around the two season-ending injuries over the past three years.  Smith is averaging a team-best 15.7 points (52%?FG) and 6.1 rebounds, adding 1.8 assists and 1.8 steals while named to the Las Vegas Invitational All-Tournament Team earlier this year after averaging 19.8 points and 6.8 rebounds in the four games against West Virginia (11.20, 17 points), Kentucky (11.24, 18 points), SEMO (11.28, 26 points), and Delaware State (11.29, 18 points).  He has played 421 minutes (30.1, second on the team) this season and ranks 74th nationally in Division I field goal percentage (.518, 87-168), and 100th nationally in Division I steals (1.8) while leading the team in 10 statistical categories this season.  Smith totals 736 career points and 371 career rebounds, including career-highs of 26 points and 11 rebounds this year.  He has already earned a bachelor of science degree in sociology from Longwood (May 2008), and is now working toward his second degree in business marketing.  Smith's first collegiate knee injury occurred at Norfolk State (11.15.06 - right knee - two menisci), and the second was at JMU (12.5.07 - left knee - ACL) after which he underwent successful reconstructive surgery (12.27.07); it was his third knee injury in four years, including one as a high school senior (right knee - 11.17.03 - ACL).

Home Sweet Home
Longwood is now 25-16 at home in Willett Hall over the past three-plus years, including 4-1 this year following a 7-5 record in Farmville during 2007-08.  The Lancers were 8-4 at the facility during 2005-06 before finishing with a record of 6-6 at home during 2006-07.  Through the first five home games this year, attendance has averaged 1,154 in the 1,807-seat venue while the student section of the facility has been at capacity each of the first four home contests while students have been on campus.

For more game notes and statistical information, please download the PDF linked above ...