January 3, 2009

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University rallied from a late five-point deficit for an 80-78 home victory past visiting George Washington University of the Atlantic 10 Conference Saturday night at Willett Hall in Farmville.  Junior Billy Robinson Jr./Columbia, Md. (Hammond) converted a three-point play inside with 55-seconds remaining to give the hosts the lead for good (75-73), and the Lancers secured their biggest win in school history with a layup and 3-4 free throws over the final 24.7-seconds for the home triumph.  Redshirt-junior Dana Smith/Woodbridge (C.D. Hylton) led four players in double-figures for Longwood (7-8) with 16 points.  Rob Diggs led the Colonials (6-6), who had advanced to the NCAA Tournament three-straight years (2005-07) prior to last season, with a game-high 20 points.  Longwood, enjoying its finest Division I start and best overall since 2002-03, will play again on Tuesday, January 6, at the University of Florida of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) for the first-time ever in Gainesville beginning at 7 p.m..
   
“That was the biggest win in Longwood history,” said sixth-year head coach Mike Gillian.  “We've said that a few times, even recently saying that some of our wins were arguably the best ever, but there is no doubt about this one!  Beating such a high quality opponent as GW, with its tremendous history and NCAA tournament success, is a fantastic feat.  The credit for this win goes to the players and coaches.  They have put so much effort and energy into building this program into one that can compete at this level … it feels great to have that lead to a result like tonight.  This win proves how far Longwood Basketball has come … and shows what the future is capable of being for us.  We can't wait for Tuesday night.”
   
George Washington led early at 6-0 just 1:37 into the game as Damian Hollis scored four quick points before Longwood senior Ryan Bogan/Oxford, Pa. (Harcum JC) scored five unanswered points on a jumper and a three-point field goal to make it 6-5 at 17:28.  The Colonials took their largest lead of the first half at 28-19 (5:41), but the Lancers responded with an 11-0 run that included consecutive three-pointers by junior Kevin Swecker/Manchester, Md. (Mount Saint Joseph), Bogan, and sophomore Durann Neil/Pleasantville, N.J. (Leap Academy) along with two free throws by Smith for a 30-28 lead at 4:10.  The hosts maintained the advantage at the intermission, leading 42-41 on a layup from sophomore Jeffrey Ryan/Beacon, N.Y. (Newburgh Free Academy).
   
The closely-played contest that featured 13 lead-changes and eight ties throughout continued so in the second half as Longwood trailed just 53-51 at 13:32 after a layin by Robinson.  George Washington, however, used an 8-2 run to take its biggest lead of the half at 61-53 with 10:16 left as Diggs contributed dunks on back-to-back possessions.  The Lancers, though, battled back with an 11-4 run to close to within 65-64 at 5:46 as freshman Antwan Carter/St. Petersburg, Fla. (St. Petersburg) contributed six points.  A three-pointer from Hollis and a GW free throw made it 69-64 (4:23), and Diggs' layup at 4:00 had the visitors still ahead 71-66 before yet another rally down the stretch by LU who outscored GW 14-7 over the final 3:46 as five different players scored for the Lancers.

Bogan began the game-ending run with two free throws at 3:46, followed by a Smith layup at 3:08 and a Neil jumper at 2:29 bringing Longwood within 73-72.  Robinson followed with his crucial old-fashioned three-point play as he scored on a layup assisted by Neil and was fouled before making the important free throw to complete the play and give the Lancers the lead for good.  Swecker's fastbreak layup after a steal and assist from Bogan made it 77-73 at 0:24.7, and Robinson added 1-2 free throws with 12.3-seconds left for a 78-73 advantage.  Following a GW basket at 0:07.7, Smith finished the scoring for the hosts with a pair of free throws at 0:06.7 for an 80-75 lead.  The Colonials made an uncontested three-pointer just ahead of the final buzzer to provide for the final margin of 80-78.

Smith led Longwood with 16 points, including 7-10 free throws, while Bogan had 14 points, including 4-4 free throws, adding six rebounds and five assists.  Swecker had 12 points and a career-high seven rebounds, and Carter added 10 points and a career-high three steals for the Lancers.  Neil contributed eight points and a game-high seven assists, and Robinson had six points and five rebounds off the bench.  LU shot 49% (27-55) from the field, including 30% (8-27) on three-pointers, and 72% (18-25) at the line.
   
Diggs led George Washington with a game-high 20 points, including 6-6 free throws, adding six rebounds, while Hollis added 19 points, including 9-10 free throws, and six rebounds.  Travis King finished with 14 points and six assists for the Colonials.  GW also shot 49% (27-55) from the field, including 25% (4-16) on three-pointers, and 71% (20-28) at the line.
   
Longwood stopped a two-game skid while narrowing the all-time series with George Washington to 2-1 as the Colonials have now lost four-straight games this season.