January 24, 2009

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University evened its record at 10-10 with a 63-51 home victory past the visiting New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) Saturday afternoon at Willett Hall in Farmville.  Freshman Antwan Carter/St. Petersburg, Fla. (St. Petersburg) led the way with his third double-double of the season, posting 18 points and a career-high 11 rebounds off the bench for the host Lancers who are enjoying their finest season as a Division I program and best overall since 2002-03.  NJIT, which had stopped a 51-game losing streak in its most recent contest, dropped to 1-19 while led by Jheryl Wilson with a game-high 20 points in a game between two NCAA Division I Independent schools.  Longwood will play again next Saturday, January 31, hosting Columbia Union College during the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Coaches vs. Cancer Suits & Sneakers Weekend in Farmville beginning at 7 p.m..
   
Longwood took an early 4-0 lead at 17:47 after a three-point field goal from sophomore Durann Neil and a free throw by junior Kevin Swecker.  NJIT tied it at 8-8 with 11:52 on the clock as Gary Garris scored five points, but the Lancers used a 14-5 run to lead 22-13 at 4:31 as five different players scored points.  The hosts maintained the nine-point margin, leading 26-17 at the intermission as junior #E.J. Dawson# scored six points off the bench to lead the way in the opening period.  Wilson had seven points at halftime for the visitors.
    
NJIT opened the second half with 10 unanswered points to take a 27-26 lead at 16:10 on a layup by Wilson who scored six quick points.  The game was tied at 30-30 with 14:10 remaining before Longwood took the lead for good on a layup from redshirt-junior Dana Smith at 13:23 for a 32-30 advantage.  Smith's basket started an 11-1 run as the Lancers led 41-31 with 11:00 on the clock after a three-pointer by senior Ryan Bogan who had five of the points.  The Highlanders briefly closed to within 42-37 at 9:16 on a jumper from Isaiah Wilkerson, however, the hosts responded with a 10-2 run to take control at 52-39 with 4:23 left to play.  Carter had four of the points during the run, including a two-handed slam dunk — the first of his collegiate career -- on a fastbreak for the hosts who led by as many as 15 points (63-48) in the final minute of regulation.
    
Carter led Longwood with his double-double of 18 points (8-12 FG) and a game-high and career-high 11 rebounds off the bench.  Bogan finished with 13 points and a game-high four steals for the Lancers.  Smith had eight points, eight rebounds, and a game-high four assists, junior Billy Robinson Jr. contributed seven points and eight rebounds, while Dawson added six points and three assists off the bench as well.  LU shot 34 percent (24-71) from the field, including a season-low 13 percent (3-23) on three-pointers, and 63 percent (12-19) at the line.  The Lancers, fifth in Division I turnover margin last week, forced 26 turnovers that were converted into 32 points, and outscored the NJIT bench 26-0 as well.
    
Wilson led NJIT with his game-high 20 points, while Wilkerson added 15 points for the Highlanders.  NJIT shot 41 percent (21-51) from the field, including 29 percent (4-14) on three-pointers, and 36 percent (5-14) at the line.  Longwood has now won three-straight games against NJIT for a 3-2 lead in the overall series that began in January, 2007.  The two schools will meet again on March 4 in New Jersey to close-out the 2008-09 campaign.

Longwood has equaled its highest win-total against a Division I schedule with its 10 wins this season, matching the 10 wins accomplished during 2005-06 (10-20).  The Lancers last won more games during 2002-03 as a Division II program (15-14).  Longwood has 11 games remaining, including five games at home where the program is now 8-2 this year, while seven of the games are against Division I Independent schools.