November 15, 2009

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University dropped a 79-76 men's basketball decision to visiting Navy Sunday evening in its home opener at Willett Hall in Farmville. The Lancers (0-2) were led by redshirt-senior Dana Smith/Woodbridge (C.D. Hylton) with a game-high double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds, surpassing 1,000 career points (1,002). The Midshipmen (1-1) of the Patriot League were led by Romeo Garcia and O.J. Ovworo with 16 points each. Longwood will play again Tuesday night, November 17, at Old Dominion University of the Colonial Athletic Association in Norfolk beginning at 7 p.m.. The ODU game is the first of four games involving the upcoming South Padre Island Invitational, Nov. 17-28.

Longwood jumped to an early 7-0 advantage at 17:27 behind five points from senior Kevin Swecker/Manchester, Md. (Mount Saint Joseph) and two from Smith. Navy scored the next five points following a timeout but the Lancers extended their margin again to as many as eight points, leading 21-13 at 11:07 on a layup from junior Aaron Mitchell/Matoaca (Manatee CC). The Midshipmen battled back with a 19-4 run fueled by a trio of three-point field goals, including one by Garcia who scored seven points during the run, to lead 32-25 with just 3:33 left in the half. It was 40-37 at the intermission as the hosts outscored the visitors 12-8 to the buzzer as Smith scored 10 points over the final 3:14 of the half, including a pair of old-fashioned three-point plays on drives to the basket.

Navy extended its advantage to start the second half, leading 56-43 at 11:43 as Jordan Sugars scored seven quick points. The Midshipmen still led 70-59 with 4:06 remaining as Ovworo scored six points during the stretch. Longwood finally began mounting a closing comeback attempt with 3:54 on the clock as sophomore Antwan Carter/St. Petersburg, Fla. (St. Petersburg) scored inside to start a game-ending 17-9 run that fell just short. Mitchell made two free throws at 00:24 to make it 76-72, and Smith layup at 00:11 had the Lancers within 77-74. Garcia made two free throws with eight-seconds left, and Carter scored again inside with two-seconds for the final margin.  It was a disappointing outcome for the hosts and the tremendously enthusiastic and loyal near-capacity crowd of 1,715.

Smith led Longwood with his game-high double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds, adding a game-high and career-high seven assists along with a game-high four steals. He became only the 17th player in school history to surpass 1,000 career points, and also became just the fifth in school history with 1,000 career points and 500 career rebounds (500). Mitchell added a career-high 16 points, along with five rebounds, five assists, and three steals for the Lancers. Carter had 12 points and seven rebounds off the bench, and Swecker contributed 11 points. LU shot 41% (26-64) from the field, including 20% (4-20) on three-pointers, and 87% (20-23) at the free throw line.

Garcia and Ovworo led Navy with 16 points each, with Garcia (6-6 FT) adding six rebounds. Sugars added 14 points and eight rebounds for the Midshipmen, and Chris Harris had 13 points (1-14 FG, 1-7 3FG, 10-10 FT) and four assists. Navy shot 43% (23-54) from the field, including 41% (7-17) on three-pointers, and 67% (26-39) at the line. The Midshipmen now lead the all-time series between the two schools at 7-0.